I'm sorry to report that GVCP Founding Member—and Life
Member—Mary Ann Smith died on December 27, 2011. Her
death was sudden and unexpected.
In May 1972 Mary Ann Smith was one of the six Founding Members
of GVCP. (Now three have died. Margaret Anne, Lilita Lassen-
Ward, and I are the remaining three.)
Mary Ann was a lifelong advocate for peace, freedom, and
justice. She played a major role in the GI Resistance movement
in the 1970's. She was a key player before, during, and after Ron
Kovic's speech at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
(Depicted in the movie Born on the Fourth of July.) She worked
tirelessly for universal, unconditional amnesty for all war resisters
when the war against Vietnam ended.
Mary Ann moved to Cincinnati to be near her family, but she attended
GVCP meetings when she visited the Rochester area. She maintained
her membership in GVCP and was awarded the title Life Member a few
years ago.
Her family has made arrangements for a memorial reception at the Little
Theatre Café, 240 East Avenue, Rochester on Sunday, February 12th,
3:00 to 5:00 PM. Please send me an e-mail if you plan to attend, so I
can notify the family that you'll be there.
Sadly,
Arnie Matlin for GVCP
WHAT IS GVCP?
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace is a nonviolent activist group, maintaining close contacts with national groups such as MoveOn, Peace Action, and Nicaragua Network. We are linked with peace groups in the following cities: Leningrad, Russia; Hungerford, Great Britain; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Nagano, Japan; and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Our members includes concerned individuals from Livingston, Genesee, Monroe, Ontario, and Wyoming counties. We extend membership to any person anywhere who believes in our goals and our methods. If you want to become a member of Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, please complete the attached form and return to
GVCP
PO BOX 363
Geneseo NY 14454
ahmatlingvcp@igc.org
Tel 585-624-3673
Fax 585.768.7311
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace is proud to be affiliated with Peace Action New York State