Ex-Chicago Teachers Union leader Karen Lewis dies at age 67
CHICAGO — Karen Lewis, a former Chicago Teachers Union president and onetime mayoral hopeful, has died at age 67, a spokeswoman said Monday.
Known for her fiery speaking style, Lewis seriously considered a challenge against then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel before she was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014. She continued to face health problems, suffering a stroke in 2017 and undergoing brain surgery the following year.
Her longtime spokeswoman and friend Stephanie Gadlin confirmed the death Monday in a statement but did not disclose the cause or circumstances.
Lewis' tenure as union president saw mass school closings and bitter contract talks. In 2012, she led the first teachers’ strike in 25 years, often going after Emanuel, whom she once described as the ”murder mayor” because of the city's violence.
“She bowed to no one, and gave strength to tens of thousands of Chicago Teachers Union educators who followed her lead, and who live by her principles to this day,” the union said in a statement. “But Karen did not just lead our movement. Karen was our movement.”
Lewis grew up on the city's South Side, the child of two public school teachers. She graduated from Dartmouth College, often noting she was the only Black woman in the 1974 graduating class.
She taught chemistry for nearly two decades in Chicago and was active in union leadership. Lewis became union president in 2010 and stepped down in 2018 because of her health.
Lewis' death drew condolences from numerous leaders, including the city's current mayor, Lori Lightfoot, and Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. On Twitter, Emanuel said that though he and Lewis often disagreed, their "regular conversations were a benefit to me and to the city of Chicago.”
In her departure letter from the union in 2018, Lewis urged teachers to keep fighting.
“In my fight against brain cancer, I am reminded through my faith that when storms come, the brave do not jump overboard,” she wrote. “They do not abandon ship, nor do they panic. Even if the captain is down and storm clouds are gathering, the rest of the crew must steer the ship on its charted course.”
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Karen Lewis, fighter for public education, charismatic ex-leader of Chicago Teachers Union, dies
Lewis had considered running against then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2014 but decided against it after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
By Stefano Esposito Updated Feb 8, 2021,
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Lewis had considered running against then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2014 but decided against it after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
By Stefano Esposito Updated Feb 8, 2021,
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CTU President Karen Lewis with teachers and supporters, on a 1 day strike called by the Chicago Teachers Union at King College Prep. Friday, April 1, 2016. Brian Jackson/Sun-Times
A visionary. A legend. A brawler. A friend. An opera lover.
Just some of the ways people remembered Karen Lewis, the charismatic former head of the Chicago Teachers Union whose death was announced Monday.
“Our union is in deep mourning today at the passing of our sister, our leader and our friend, President Emerita Karen GJ Lewis,” the Chicago Teachers Union said in a statement. “We are sending heartfelt condolences to her husband, John Lewis, and her surviving family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
“Karen taught us how to fight, and she taught us how to love. She was a direct descendant of the legendary Jackie Vaughn, the first Black, female president of our local. Both were fierce advocates for educators and children, but where Jackie was stately elegance, Karen was a brawler with sharp wit and an Ivy League education.”
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Later in the day, current CTU President Jesse Sharkey tweeted: “Rest in Power Karen Lewis — you united us and helped us see our own power, and you did it with your humor, your humanity and your courage. You always gave of yourself so freely. We love you and may your memory be a blessing.”
In a statement on Twitter, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said: “Amy and I are saddened to learn of Karen Lewis’ passing. Our deepest condolences go out to her family, loved ones, friends and CTU family during this extremely difficult time.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker called Lewis “a fighter who possessed a sense of humor, smarts and charisma that few in the public sphere could match. She believed to her core in bettering her members’ lives and improving the lives of Chicago’s children. Her legacy will long endure — may her memory be a blessing.”
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, also in a tweet, said: “Jane and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Karen Lewis. She lived her life on the front line of the struggle for justice in education, and to honor her memory we must recommit ourselves to building the fairer future students and families deserve
In 2012, Chicago teachers went on strike for the first time in 25 years, fueled by their anger against then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who persuaded the Illinois General Assembly to raise the strike threshold, stripped them of a previously negotiated 4% pay raise and offered schools and teachers extra money to waive the teachers contract and immediately implement his longer school day.
The strike damaged Chicago’s reputation and turned Lewis into a folk hero with the guts to fight City Hall.
“The 2012 teachers’ strike changed the course of Chicago and our entire country,” SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff said in a statement Monday. “Karen’s leadership inspired teachers across the country to fight for quality public education that their communities deserve.
“Through her work and vision, Karen transformed CTU into the powerful organization it is today and reminded the world how unions are a potent force for the common good. Her legacy lives on through the millions of working people she inspired to fight for collective justice.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle echoed that theme in praising Lewis: “She was a leader, a fighter and a visionary, fiercely committed to the values of equity + justice. She was a leading voice on public education in not just the city of Chicago, but in our country. Rest in power.”
In 2014, Lewis considered running against Emanuel. When cancer derailed that plan, she endorsed Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who didn’t win but is now a U.S. congressman.
“I was blessed by Karen’s trust and confidence to fight for working people and the communities we represented,” Garcia said in statement Monday. “In 2015 she encouraged me to run for mayor of Chicago when her own bid was cut short by medical complications. I am humbled she supported me.”
Lewis’ passions extended far beyond the education and politics.
“She spoke three languages, loved her opera and her show tunes, and dazzled you with her smile,” the CTU said, “yet could stare down the most powerful enemies of public education and defend our institution with a force rarely seen in organized labor.”
A visionary. A legend. A brawler. A friend. An opera lover.
Just some of the ways people remembered Karen Lewis, the charismatic former head of the Chicago Teachers Union whose death was announced Monday.
“Our union is in deep mourning today at the passing of our sister, our leader and our friend, President Emerita Karen GJ Lewis,” the Chicago Teachers Union said in a statement. “We are sending heartfelt condolences to her husband, John Lewis, and her surviving family and friends. She will be dearly missed.
“Karen taught us how to fight, and she taught us how to love. She was a direct descendant of the legendary Jackie Vaughn, the first Black, female president of our local. Both were fierce advocates for educators and children, but where Jackie was stately elegance, Karen was a brawler with sharp wit and an Ivy League education.”
RELATED
Karen Lewis: ‘A force of nature, smart as a summer day is long’
Karen Lewis and Rahm Emanuel: Rocky relationship ‘started in one place and ended in another’
Later in the day, current CTU President Jesse Sharkey tweeted: “Rest in Power Karen Lewis — you united us and helped us see our own power, and you did it with your humor, your humanity and your courage. You always gave of yourself so freely. We love you and may your memory be a blessing.”
In a statement on Twitter, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said: “Amy and I are saddened to learn of Karen Lewis’ passing. Our deepest condolences go out to her family, loved ones, friends and CTU family during this extremely difficult time.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker called Lewis “a fighter who possessed a sense of humor, smarts and charisma that few in the public sphere could match. She believed to her core in bettering her members’ lives and improving the lives of Chicago’s children. Her legacy will long endure — may her memory be a blessing.”
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, also in a tweet, said: “Jane and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Karen Lewis. She lived her life on the front line of the struggle for justice in education, and to honor her memory we must recommit ourselves to building the fairer future students and families deserve
In 2012, Chicago teachers went on strike for the first time in 25 years, fueled by their anger against then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who persuaded the Illinois General Assembly to raise the strike threshold, stripped them of a previously negotiated 4% pay raise and offered schools and teachers extra money to waive the teachers contract and immediately implement his longer school day.
The strike damaged Chicago’s reputation and turned Lewis into a folk hero with the guts to fight City Hall.
“The 2012 teachers’ strike changed the course of Chicago and our entire country,” SEIU Illinois State Council President Tom Balanoff said in a statement Monday. “Karen’s leadership inspired teachers across the country to fight for quality public education that their communities deserve.
“Through her work and vision, Karen transformed CTU into the powerful organization it is today and reminded the world how unions are a potent force for the common good. Her legacy lives on through the millions of working people she inspired to fight for collective justice.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle echoed that theme in praising Lewis: “She was a leader, a fighter and a visionary, fiercely committed to the values of equity + justice. She was a leading voice on public education in not just the city of Chicago, but in our country. Rest in power.”
In 2014, Lewis considered running against Emanuel. When cancer derailed that plan, she endorsed Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, who didn’t win but is now a U.S. congressman.
“I was blessed by Karen’s trust and confidence to fight for working people and the communities we represented,” Garcia said in statement Monday. “In 2015 she encouraged me to run for mayor of Chicago when her own bid was cut short by medical complications. I am humbled she supported me.”
Lewis’ passions extended far beyond the education and politics.
“She spoke three languages, loved her opera and her show tunes, and dazzled you with her smile,” the CTU said, “yet could stare down the most powerful enemies of public education and defend our institution with a force rarely seen in organized labor.”
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