Alice Fialkin

1946 - 2015

After a life dedicated to activism, service, a wide variety of interests and close friends, Alice Fialkin died following her fourth bout with breast cancer on January 22. She was born in New York City and attended the University of Michigan, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was involved in the student movement. After college she moved to Chicago, where she was involved with workplace and community organizing, including antiwar work at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. She harvested sugar cane in Cuba with the Venceremos Brigade.

After moving to San Francisco, she broke the gender barrier as one of the first women to be hired as a Muni driver since the Korean War. In a career spanning three decades, she drove the 22 Fillmore bus, worked in labor relations, and served as president of the local Transit Workers Union. She was active in the SF Central Labor Council, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Occupy Bernal, and the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, in addition to serving as a CORO Foundation Fellow. A tireless worker on many boards and committees of the American Civil Liberties Union (including the Board of Directors, the Racial Justice Coalition, the Bill of Rights Committee), Alice served for 6 years as a Civil Liberties Counselor.

In addition to her activism, she had many other interests, including marathon running, bird watching, and volunteering with SF Jazz. She is survived by her twin sister Susan of Boston and her sister Ruth of Australia and their families. Her loss will be mourned by a wide and diverse circle of friends and communities. A memorial service will be scheduled. Contact Brian McWilliams at ilwubrian@ yahoo.com for more information.