In Memoriam: Annabel Kitzhaber

The League of Women Voters lost an outstanding leader on Thursday, October 27, 2005, with the death of Annabel Kitzhaber. Annabel, who served the League on the local, state and national levels, began as president of a provisional League in Logan, Utah, and then served on local and state boards in Kansas, New Hampshire and Oregon. She was president of the League of Central Lane County from 1973-75 and president of the League of Women Voters of Oregon from 1977-79. She also was a member of the LWVUS Budget Committee.

Annabel Kitzhaber

Annabel was recognized for her achievements with many awards, including the Lane County Council of Organizations' Senior Woman of the Year award in 1982, the Governor's Certificate of Appreciation for her efforts to reform the Oregon school funding system (1989), the League of Women Voters Carrie Chapman Catt Award (1995), the Eugene City Club "Turtle Award" for civic achievement (1996) and the University of Oregon Distinguished Service Award in 2000. In September 2005, the LWV of Lane County presented her with an award named in her honor, the first annual Annabel Kitzhaber Education and Advocacy Award.

Just as significant as tributes to Annabel are the sentiments expressed by League members who knew her well. She was, in their words, " the embodiment of what League is all about;" "a lady in the old-fashioned sense who was also intelligent and savvy and blessed with a gentle but keen sense of humor;" "my ’second mother’;" "realistic but also determined to 'help people understand';" "a mentor extraordinaire who always challenged us to do our best."

In her presentation of the Education and Advocacy Award to Annabel, League member Janet Calvert noted that, "Although the study of taxes and funding government makes many people yawn, she knew that a reliable tax system was key to an excellent public education system and the provision of government services that citizens need. Taxes were her thing…" "Governor Tom McCall appointed her to his School Finance Task Force in 1972, and she was then appointed to a Legislative Commission funded by the Ford Foundation to evaluate systems for financing public education in Oregon."

Annabel carefully reviewed and commented on the LWVOR Funding Oregon report in 2004. She made phone calls in support of Measure 30. Those of us who followed her as League leaders appreciated her notes of support. She was kind, encouraging, informed and always interested in what we were trying to do for Oregon. She will be greatly missed.

Annabel's family has requested that memorial gifts be sent to the League of Women Voters of Oregon Education Fund and the LWVOR Board has voted to rename our endowment fund as the Annabel Kitzhaber Education Endowment Fund.

(This article is based on the League of Women Voters of Lane County presentation of the Annabel Kitzhaber Education and Advocacy Award, an obituary in the Eugene Register-Guard, and emails from League members throughout Oregon.)