I am extremely sad to have to inform you that our great friend,
comrade, sarcastic hell-raiser, women's liberation participant,
antiwarrior and networker par excellence, and defender of the ducks
of the world,
Saralee Hamilton
died in a Philadelphia hospital last night (Dec. 7) around 6 pm from
pneumonia and other complications resulting from the aggressive
chemotherapy and radiation treatments she had been receiving since last June.
Her pal Joyce Miller was with her when she died (thank you for being
there, Joyce!), and a loving parade of Saralee's friends and
co-workers at the American Friends Service Committee visited her
during the day at Hahneman University Hospital.
I spoke with her on the telephone apparently just a few minutes
before she was wheeled away for a "procedure" to remove blood clots
near her heart that were hindering her use of oxygen. I am not sure
if she died during that procedure or immediately thereafter. My last
words to her before hanging up were the greetings she always gave in
answering her phone: "Quack, quack!"
When I spoke with her the other day, she was in desperate health
straits but still full of plans for pushing forward her work against
U.S. military bases around the world (particularly in the
Philippines) and the destruction of women, in particular, that they bring.
She will be cremated, and I'll post further information when I receive it ....
I invite you to post memories and thoughts of Saralee, a wonderful
and supportive friend to our movements and in particular to me, the
Red Balloon Collective, the No Spray Coalition, and the direct action
section of the Greens.
Saralee Hamilton, QUACK! QUACK!
- Mitchel Cohen
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