How do we begin to say thank you to Cokie Roberts? She has been our friend, supporter, and guardian angel for so many years. She was our first Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award Honoree in 1995. The award was created to honor her visionary sister, Barbara Boggs Sigmund, and was presented to her by her mother, the Honorable Congresswoman Lindy Boggs. That night Cokie spoke of her commitment to keeping her sister’s legacy alive and strong. She has never backed away from that promise. To hear from her with some regularity, wanting to know how the events of the day were impacting our families was always special. Her journalist side wanted to know the facts, and her caring, compassionate side wanted to know how she could help. She showed up to our events when her schedule allowed and when it didn’t she would create videos for us to use in her absence, ensuring she was always a presence for us. It was amazing to hear from her about something she read in our newsletter, praising the efforts of staff and the work of the agency, and expressing her pride in being a part of Womanspace. No call to her went unanswered, no request was beyond the scope of what she could provide.
Cokie was a study in intelligence and grace. She was, as is often said about her, a National Treasure and the world of journalism, news, and politics benefited from her enormous talent. She was a consummate professional, a superstar. However, personal discussions with Cokie all came back to family, how she fiercely loved her family and always wanted to hear about your family. Her expansive definition of family was all-inclusive, and how fortunate for us to have had her as a very special member of our family. Womanspace will not quite be the same without her. We will miss her like crazy and we are thinking of, praying for and sending the warmest of condolences to her family. We thank them for sharing their fabulous Cokie with us for all these years.
– Womanspace Executive Director Pat Hart
