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Barbara LaPlante – CSR’s first female president – passes away

Posted 7 years 224 days ago ago by Dani Schenone   

Barbara LaPlante, the first female president of California State Retirees, Inc., passed away Aug. 14. She was 89.

LaPlante also had the distinction of holding the position of president – formerly known as director – for more than 10 years, longer than any previous member of California State Retirees, Inc., which is now known as California State Retirees. She also held many other positions in the organization, including regional director.

“No one could have worked harder or garnered more respect in her role,” said Perry Kenny, former president of California State Employees Association (CSEA) and member of CSR’s Chapter 36. “It was always a comfort to me to realize she would attend CalPERS meetings and any other event that would benefit or appear to impact state retirees.”

Among other benefits for state retirees, LaPlante worked tirelessly with legislators to pass SB 400, which gave retirees an ad hoc increase of up to 6 percent and reopened Tier 1 retirement. LaPlante was also instrumental in helping to establish Proposition 162, the Pension Protection Act, passed to prevent raids on the CalPERS fund.

LaPlante’s visitation is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Holy Angels Funeral Home, 1051 Harder Road in Hayward. Her rosary will follow at 7 p.m.

A funeral is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Aug. 24 at St. Bede Catholic Church, 26950 Patrick Ave. in Hayward. A celebration of life will follow at an address to be announced later.