Olga A. Méndez
Encyclopedia
Olga A. Méndez was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the United States mainland.
in 1925. In 1950, she graduated from the Universidad de Puerto Rico with a Bachelor's Degree. In 1960 she earned her Master's Degree in Psychology
from the Teacher's College at Columbia University
. In 1975, she defended her Doctoral Dissertation in Educational Psychology and received her Ph.D from Yeshiva University
.
Méndez married into a respected East Harlem
political family. Her father-in-law, Tony Méndez
was the first Puerto Rican district leader in Manhattan
. She became involved in the fight for better government through her family members and became
an active leader in the area of voter registration drives throughout the nation.
at the Democratic National Convention
. In 1974, she was elected to the "National Conference of Women" in Houston, Texas
.
In 1978, she was elected Senator to the New York State Legislature, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican woman New York Senator. She represented the 28th Senate District and held this position for 26 years. Méndez was elected Delegate for the Democratic Conventions of 1980, 1984 and 1988. In 1984, she was elected Secretary of the Minority Conference. In 1993, Méndez became the first Puerto Rican woman to be chosen Chairperson of the Minority Conference. At times Méndez offered her political support to Republicans when doing so would have been beneficial to her district. She was often criticized by her peers for this bi-partisanship.
, son of U.S. Congressman José Serrano
. During her final six months in office she served as the Chairwoman of the Senate Labor Committee.
Méndez was diagnosed with breast cancer
in 1993 and underwent surgery. She said that she shared her story in order to educate others.
She succumbed after a 16 years long battle, passing away at her East Harlem apartment on July 29, 2009, aged 84.
New York City's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg
, an Independent, who was both a former Democrat and a former Republican, credited Méndez with impressing upon him the "importance of reaching across partisan lines to do what's right for your constituents". Bloomberg stated the following:
She was also named to the Civil Liberties Honor Roll. A public housing building which bears her name was constructed in Spanish Harlem in Manhattan.
Early years
Olga Méndez was born in Mayaguez, Puerto RicoMayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
in 1925. In 1950, she graduated from the Universidad de Puerto Rico with a Bachelor's Degree. In 1960 she earned her Master's Degree in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from the Teacher's College at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In 1975, she defended her Doctoral Dissertation in Educational Psychology and received her Ph.D from Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
.
Méndez married into a respected East Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
political family. Her father-in-law, Tony Méndez
Tony Mendez
Tony Mendez is a former CIA technical operations officer. His job was to support clandestine and covert CIA operations...
was the first Puerto Rican district leader in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. She became involved in the fight for better government through her family members and became
an active leader in the area of voter registration drives throughout the nation.
Political career
In 1972, Olga Méndez was elected as a New York Delegate, committed to Senator George McGovernGeorge McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
at the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
. In 1974, she was elected to the "National Conference of Women" in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
In 1978, she was elected Senator to the New York State Legislature, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican woman New York Senator. She represented the 28th Senate District and held this position for 26 years. Méndez was elected Delegate for the Democratic Conventions of 1980, 1984 and 1988. In 1984, she was elected Secretary of the Minority Conference. In 1993, Méndez became the first Puerto Rican woman to be chosen Chairperson of the Minority Conference. At times Méndez offered her political support to Republicans when doing so would have been beneficial to her district. She was often criticized by her peers for this bi-partisanship.
Later years and death
In December 2002, Méndez left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party, a move which made re-election very tenuous. On November 4, 2004, Méndez was defeated by José M. SerranoJose M. Serrano
José Marco Serrano, son of the long-time US Representative by the same name, is a member of the New York State Senate, representing Mott Haven, Melrose, Highbridge, Morris Heights, Spanish Harlem, Yorkville and Roosevelt Island. He is the son of U.S. Congressman José Serrano.A lifelong South Bronx...
, son of U.S. Congressman José Serrano
José Serrano
José Enrique Serrano is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1990. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. During her final six months in office she served as the Chairwoman of the Senate Labor Committee.
Méndez was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
in 1993 and underwent surgery. She said that she shared her story in order to educate others.
She succumbed after a 16 years long battle, passing away at her East Harlem apartment on July 29, 2009, aged 84.
New York City's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, an Independent, who was both a former Democrat and a former Republican, credited Méndez with impressing upon him the "importance of reaching across partisan lines to do what's right for your constituents". Bloomberg stated the following:
"That's a lesson I carry with me every day, and one that's informed our administration's approach to everything we do, including the issues Olga focused on most acutely: educating our children, creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and developing affordable housing ... [D]iagnosed with cancer in the early 1990s, Olga didn't recoil from public life or attempt to hide her condition. Instead, she shared her story and her struggle with others. But Olga's legacy will live on with all New Yorkers who benefitted from this incomparable woman, who courageously broke barriers and overcame obstacles in her way."
Legacy
Among the many awards and recognitions which Méndez was awarded were the following:- the Operation Push National Citizenship Award,
- Effective Leadership Golden Age Award
- Hunter College Presidential Medal of Honor
She was also named to the Civil Liberties Honor Roll. A public housing building which bears her name was constructed in Spanish Harlem in Manhattan.