In Memoriam
This page is dedicated to Soroptimist federation officers who have recently passed away. They will be missed for their dedication to Soroptimist and our mission of providing women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
Date Posted: 9/13/24
SIA is saddened to report the passing of Jean Barth, the 2005-2006 President of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc.®
Jean spent her early days in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a degree in home economics education. After teaching for five years, Jean worked in retail, before starting her own retail clothing business in Mt. Clemons, Michigan, where she had settled. This business led to her recruitment as a Soroptimist member in 1985 with SI/Greater Macomb, MI (Midwestern Region). She later served as executive director of the Mt. Clemons Business Association.
Upon assuming the SIA president role, Jean noted in an interview for Best for Women magazine how impressed she was with the women in the Greater Macomb club, and the continuing inspiration she felt for Soroptimist’s mission, and its focus on women and girls. The work of Soroptimists throughout the federation had, “enriched my life and given volunteerism new meaning for me.”
Jean’s Soroptimist leadership journey included chartering the Genesee County, MI (Midwestern Region), club in 1998 and becoming a charter member, serving as a Midwestern Region district director from 1992 to 1994, governor-elect from 1996 to 1998, and governor from 1998 to 2000. She was elected to the SIA Board of Directors for the 2002-2004 term, and as SIA’s president-elect for 2004-2005.
In her personal statement when seeking the board of directors position, Jean noted that her long history of service and leadership in many organizations was inspired by her mother. She also noted that while initially believing Soroptimist membership would be beneficial to her business, she soon found out it was the best thing she ever did for herself.
Jean’s SIA board service coincided with the development of the Renaissance Campaign, and the four inter-related pillars of membership (engagement), program (impact), public awareness, and fundraising. Jean spoke often to Soroptimist regions and clubs about the critical importance of the inter-related themes in these pillars, and the overwhelming importance to clubs of the Live Your Dream Awards (then called the Women’s Opportunity Awards) to help women in their communities embrace education in their own journeys to move past the barriers or trauma in their lives.
In addition to her Soroptimist leadership, Jean served in leadership positions in Girl Scouts, National Education Association, and the Detroit area University of Wisconsin-Stout Alumnae Association among a long list of affiliations. Jean and her husband Bill owned an antique automobile restoration business, and Jean’s service extended to numerous leadership positions in local chapters and spearheading events of the Model T Ford Club, as well as officer positions, including president, of Model T Ford Club International.
SIA sends its condolences to the Barth family, and all those who called Jean a mentor and were touched by her enthusiastic embrace of volunteerism and leadership service to Soroptimist International of the Americas and other organizations.
Date Posted: 10/27/23
SIA sadly reports the passing of Patricia D. “Patsy” Daniels, the 1988-1990 SIA President. A woman of foresight and enthusiasm who believed strongly in advancing the status of women, Patsy went on to serve as the 1995-1997 Soroptimist International President. Patsy was a member of SI/Santa Rosa, CA (Founder Region) since 1973.
Patsy spent the early years of her career as an elementary school teacher, before joining the Daniel’s family business, Daniels Chapel of the Roses, Inc. Working alongside her husband, Bill, Patsy served as the first woman president of the California Funeral Directors Association from 1987 to 1988. It was through her association with the family business that Patsy became a member of Soroptimist.
Patsy quickly rose through the ranks of Soroptimist leadership, and from 1976 through the end of her SIA presidency in 1990, served as club president (1976-1978), Founder Region district II director 1978-1980, Founder Region lieutenant governor (1982-1984) and governor (1982-1984) before serving as the SIA vice president (1984-1986) and president-elect (1986-1988).
Patsy’s term as SIA president was marked by a two-year discussion of transforming SIA’s governance structure (known as “The Plan”) that ultimately included a governing board with representatives of all of SIA’s major cultural areas that was small enough (13 members) to meet multiple times a year, rather than a North American-centric executive committee. “The Plan” also called for greater professional capacity at SIA headquarters so that members could focus on service, not federation administration through headquarters. “The Plan” was approved at the 29th Biennial Convention in Kyoto, Japan, the first biennial convention to take place outside of North America; Patsy then served as the chair of the transition team to move to the new governance and headquarters structure through 1991.
In the May-June 1998 Soroptimist magazine article introducing her as SIA’s president, Patsy noted her strong commitment to giving back to the community through volunteerism. But she also noted that her Soroptimist membership provided a window to the world, and the opportunity to meet and work with women in important work far beyond her community. She likened her membership to a gift of multiple boxes, that after opening one box you would find another box with yet another gift—fellowship, friendship, and purpose.
As SIA president, Patsy had the foresight to focus on areas and goals that over time would become major initiatives with SIA. One goal to promote SIA through a unity of purpose to be more well-known eventually evolved into the concept of collective impact, SIA’s focus for decade beginning in 2012. Patsy was also particularly interested in the status of women, and the need to advance women in order to realize equality. In her introduction article, she noted the famous quote, that if you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family.
Patsy continued her commitment to the status of women as the SI president. She was instrumental in choosing the 1995-1999 SI quadrennial program Project SIAM (Soroptimist International Aids Mediation), conducted in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, to address the issues of the high rate of HIV infection in the region and provide education and income generation alternatives to the high number of young women in that area of Thailand entering the commercial sex industry (CSI).
In addition to her Soroptimist activities, Patsy served as board member of the Redwood Empire Red Cross and the Konocti Girl Scout Council, and as a member of numerous professional and community groups, including the Santa Rosa Seniors Center, where she coordinated information seminars for several years.
Patsy noted the strong support of her family during the years she served in Soroptimist leadership. SIA sends its condolences to the Daniels family, as well as Soroptimists in Founder Region, SIA, and throughout Soroptimist International who called Patsy their friend and worked with her for the betterment of the organization for so many years.
Date Posted: 8/11/23
SIA sadly reports the passing of Joan Cromer, 1995-1996 SIA President, who went on to serve as 2003-2005 Soroptimist International President. Joan was a member of SI/Scotts Bluff County, NE (Peaks to Plains Region, formerly Rocky Mountain Region), since 1974. She was also the matriarch of three generations of Soroptimist members and leaders including her daughter, Karen Cromer Johnson, a former North Central Region Governor and SIA Board member, and granddaughter Joanne Johnson, both current members of SI/Twin Cities, MN (Peaks to Plains Region, formerly North Central Region).
For Joan, community service started in high school through 4-H leadership and continued through her college years. Joan had a long career in human services, including teaching high school home economics, and developing the first local Head Start education program in the greater Nebraska Panhandle area. At the time she became SIA’s president, she was serving as the Executive Director of Panhandle Community Services, which focused on affordable housing, parenting programs for teen parents, maintaining a shelter for runaway and homeless youth, healthcare, and programs for senior citizens. She retired from that position in 2002.
Joan was invited to join Soroptimist by Dorothy Brown, a friend and co-worker, who served in Soroptimist leadership at both the region and federation level. In the September-October 1995 issue of The Soroptimist of the Americas introducing her as the next president, Joan noted, “I particularly liked the association of being with other women outside of my profession, and learning more about the important issues in their lives.” She went on to serve in almost all elected offices in her club, then served in elected positions on Rocky Mountain Region’s board beginning in 1980, including as member-at-large, treasurer, secretary, and governor-elect, before serving as the 1990-1992 governor. She was elected to the SIA Board of Directors in 1993.
As she started her term, SIA President Joan noted her goals. They included stronger statements of sponsorship between SIA and its long-standing sponsored organizations, Venture, S Clubs, and Sigma Societies, to expand and strengthen Soroptimist’s presence in Central and South America, and enhancing relationships with regions, all of which were accomplished during her presidency. Her philosophy of the power and impact of teamwork, and in designing and achieving the goals of the organization through collective action were still being felt and utilized decades later.
Joan’s belief in the power of the Soroptimist federations to undertake important work through Soroptimist International propelled her to the SI presidency. She noted in her ballot resume for the position, that Soroptimist was her “passion”. In the spirit of Soroptimist International’s Moving Forward Together Committee, she pushed forward with open discussions on implementing effective public relations, enhancing communications, and work toward global recognition of Soroptimist and its programmatic work as International President, seeking to build toward the future success of the organization.
A strong proponent of education, she served as a college instructor. Joan earned her Master of Social Work degree and her Doctorate of Education while working full time and maintaining an active service life in Soroptimist, and on various community boards, including but not limited to the YMCA, United Way, and County Extension board. She was the Nebraska governor’s appointee on the Nebraska Homeless Council, the Nebraska Jobs Partnership Training Council, and the Women’s Advisory Health Council. Joan received numerous honors in recognition of her outstanding service and work in her community and across the state.
Joan leaves behind an extended family which also includes her sons Bradley and Gregory. Joan once listed her eight grandchildren as one of her “interests” along with art and gardening. She was predeceased by her husband, John. SIA sends its condolences to the entire Cromer family, as well as those Soroptimists who counted Joan as their friend. Her passing is noted with both sadness and gratitude by all Soroptimists who benefited from her forward-thinking strategic leadership of Soroptimist International of the Americas and Soroptimist International.
Date Posted: 5/4/23
SIA is saddened to report the passing of 1992-1993 SIA President Roberta Porter. A member of SI/Eugene, OR (Northwestern Region), since 1972, Roberta was urged to become a Soroptimist member after her family returned to Eugene to run a family business. Before that time, Roberta had a career in nursing, school nursing, and public health in Washington and California. Roberta was also an artist, and after her retirement from the family business, ran her own art studio.
Roberta was identified early in her membership as a future leader and became club president only two years after joining her club. Beginning in 1978, she served Northwestern Region as a district secretary, district director, and secretary; she also served as a 1984-1986 region governor.
She was nominated from the floor at the 1986 SIA Convention in Seattle, Washington, and elected as federation secretary, followed by service as the federation vice president in 1988, and president-elect in 1990. This period was the time when SIA as a federation was studying new ways to organize the federation and new governance structures. As a result, Roberta was the first federation president to serve a one-year term when the new federation structure, which still governs SIA, went into effect in 1991.
In the May-June 1992 Soroptimist magazine article introducing Roberta as the incoming president, Roberta exhibited her forward-thinking philosophy. She lamented at the time the lack of a cohesive voice, but in a 2017 oral history interview, she noted her enthusiasm for SIA’s dream focus with the Dream It, Be It program and Live Your Dream Awards. In 1992, Roberta also called for more avenues for measurement and evaluation of SIA’s programs and awards to provide proof to the world about the impact of our programs for women and girls, which are now a regular part of SIA’s work.
Roberta was passionate about supporting and developing leadership potential within the federation, by making it a priority through seminars and articles. As president, she promoted a biennial leadership seminar in 1993. This seminar ushered in almost two decades of leadership training seminars held during years without an SIA convention.
In addition to Soroptimist, Roberta was also active in other community endeavors, including the Emerald Empire Art Association, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, the Eugene Downtown Association, and the Lane County Emerald Waterway Committee. Roberta held positions in her churches in Eugene and Gleneden Beach, where she and her husband lived after closing their family business. She also was a pianist at her Gleneden Beach church.
Roberta leaves behind a family which completely supported her years in Soroptimist leadership, her husband, Bill, and sons Scott and Robert, and eight grandchildren; Roberta was predeceased by her son Steve. SIA sends its condolences to the Porter family, and all those Soroptimists who called Roberta their friend and benefited from her visionary leadership.
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