1927–2008
Lifetime Member Kay Elwers, 81, died on Nov. 8, 2008, of pneumonia in her nursing home in Madison, Wis. Kay grew up in Neenah, Wis., graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Lawrence University in 1949, and later established the Kathryn Elwers Fund at Lawrence.
She earned an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1950, worked as a teacher, as an employee in a stock brokerage and for the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations.
In retirement she was a volunteer for Red Cross, and served for many years on the Board of the Women’s Medical Fund, still administered by Anne Gaylor, FFRF president emerita.
Kay was an opera aficionado, traveled throughout the United States, Europe and Africa.
Kay became a local legend in her own time for tirelessly holding a “Pro-Choice” sign at Madison abortion clinics, no matter the weather, on a daily basis. She wanted to assure a friendly face to patients and to counter religious-fanatic pickets.
“Her kindness and her gentle dedication to civil rights made her such a positive force,” said Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor. It was asked that donations be made to one of three charities, including the abortion rights charity Kay supported, the Women’s Medical Fund, PO Box 248, Madison WI 53701.
