George C. Springer, Sr. of New Britain was an educator, activist and labor leader who was well respected for the work he did over decades for justice and equality. He passed away at the age of seventy-four this Tuesday, December 19th.
Mr. Springer is best known as a leader in the American Federation of Teachers. He was president of the New Britain Federation of Teachers and the Connecticut Federation of Educational and Professional Employees and he was a vice president of the American Federation of Teachers. He was also a leader in many civic and advocacy organizations in New Britain.
Click here for George C. Springer Sr.'s complete obituary on the Carlson Funeral Home website.
Friends and colleagues of Mr. Springer have been leaving condolences and memories about him in the Carlson Funeral Home (http://carlsonfuneralhome.com/) online guestbook, which can be read by clicking here. (The site also allows the posting of additional comments.)
For example, State Representative John Geragosian (D-New Britain) said,
From the Carlson Funeral Home website:
Mr. Springer is best known as a leader in the American Federation of Teachers. He was president of the New Britain Federation of Teachers and the Connecticut Federation of Educational and Professional Employees and he was a vice president of the American Federation of Teachers. He was also a leader in many civic and advocacy organizations in New Britain.
Click here for George C. Springer Sr.'s complete obituary on the Carlson Funeral Home website.
Friends and colleagues of Mr. Springer have been leaving condolences and memories about him in the Carlson Funeral Home (http://carlsonfuneralhome.com/) online guestbook, which can be read by clicking here. (The site also allows the posting of additional comments.)
For example, State Representative John Geragosian (D-New Britain) said,
George made a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of people. He fought for labor rights to ensure proper wages and benefits for thousands of teachers and other professionals in our state. He fought to make our educational system better and fairer for all of the children in our state and country. He was a soldier in the struggle for civil rights and economic justice, and a pillar in the progressive movement in Connecticut and across the nation.Readers are also invited to write about their memories of Mr. Springer on the NBCN New Britain News website by clicking here.
From the Carlson Funeral Home website:
Funeral services are Saturday 10 AM at Spottswood AME Zion Church, 25 Crestwood Lane, New Britain. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday 4 to 8 PM at Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square, New Britain. Memorial donations may be made to the Gerri Brown-Springer Scholarship Fund, c/o OIC, 1 Grove Place, New Britain, CT 06051 or to the John E. Rogers African-American Cultural Center, P.O. Box 1931, Hartford, CT 06144.
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John McNamara, Chairman of the New Britain Democratic Town Committee included the following memorial in his Democratic E-Letter:
In Memory of George C. Springer, Sr.
If you live in New Britain and care about social justice, community action and progressive politics you had to know George C. Springer, Sr. Springer, a native of Panama and a former New Britain teacher, was a constant advocate for all of those causes and "a family man extraordinaire."
Springer died December 19th at the age of 74. Through all of his endeavors on behalf of the union, public education and civil rights, Springer possessed a thoughtful demeanor that commanded respect whether you agreed with him or not. His leadership was quiet and unassuming, but always that of a determined fighter for the things that he believed in.
He rose to lead the 20,000-member Connecticut Federation of Educational and Professional Employees and served as vice president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and as the AFT's Northeast Regional Director. Springer, who participated in the 1963 March on Washington, was a labor and community leader who could always be counted on to help individuals and organizations in the quest to attain what the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. often called "the beloved community."
Springer's life and work took him far beyond the City of New Britain and he will be rightly remembered in many places by many people. In New Britain, we can be especially thankful that he came here for a teacher's education and stayed.
New Britain Democrats extend condolences to his wife Gerri, son George, Jr. and the Springer family. Donations in Springer's memory may be made to the Gerri Brown-Springer Scholarship Fund, c/o OIC, 1 Grove Place New Britain, CT 06051 or to the John E. Rogers African American Cultural Center, P.O. Box 1931, Hartford, CT 06144
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