LILLIAN HECKER FREED has been a champion of the working class and a political activist since she was 16 years old. During an ear when women were socially and financially discouraged from working outside the home, she worked and developed a career that spanned four decades. In the 1950’s, she broke the barriers to become her company’s first woman Departmental Supervisor. She retained a leadership position in that company for thirty years, mentoring and encouraging other women. In a lifetime of political activism, she marched in active support of peace during the Vietnam War, led a successful strike and organized a union in New York, and sat on picket lines in San Francisco’s Auto Row until racial discrimination in hiring was ended. At age 80, her current volunteer activities include work with the San Mateo Central Labor Council, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Contra Costa Hills Conservation Club and the California Club (both conservation and hiking clubs), the Peace Action Association, and the Tamalpais Conservation Club. She is president of the Federation Union Members and says that she will continue to march for social justice and equality as long as she is able.
