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Home , Ann Richards, Liz Carpenter, The Couch (Seinfeld)

IN MEMORIAM

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hen news of the passing of our assistant to a vice president (efortlessly draf- amazing life and legacy, go to www.lbjlibrary. beloved reached ing the 58 difcult but perfect words spoken org/carpenter). K us March 20th, many at the maga- by President Johnson afer the assassination of We will miss her terribly. We asked some of zine who were friends, admirers, mentees and President Kennedy); then became press sec- her closest friends to share some personal re- colleagues were deeply saddened. Liz graced retary to the First Lady in the ; membrances of Liz on our pages this month, our cover in Dec. of 2002, within the frst six and continued to serve under four presidents. with more to come in May. months of the magazine’s inception. Not only She went on to found the National Wom- was Liz one of our frst cover women; she was a en’s Political Caucus (along with Bety Friedan, I first met Liz Carpenter in 1959 when we contributor, columnist and ardent supporter Bella Abzug and Gloria Steinem); led the both worked for newspapers with offices on of our mission. Liz was a trailblazer in the areas Initiative; was one the 12th floor of the National Press Building. I of politics, journalism and women’s rights and of the frst three woman members of the was with the Washington bureau of the New warmly and happily opened many doors for Headliners Club in Austin (along with Ann York Daily News; Liz was down the hall with The Carpenter News Bureau, which she ran us to other lady legends like Lady Bird John- Richards and Sarah Weddington); was an en- with her husband, Les. Always a wit, Liz liked son, , Sarah Weddington, Ann thusiastic campaigner and supporter of Dem- to boast that her daughter, Christy, was con- Richards, Luci Baines Johnson and Helen ocratic candidates and the Democratic Party; ceived on the couch in the Carpenter News Tomas, all her dear friends. For that we are a prolifc author of fve books and bestsellers, Bureau, adding, matter-of-factly, “It was a slow forever grateful. countless articles and columns; and a sought- news day.” Liz’s brilliance, sharp wit, sense of humor afer speaker, humorist, advisor and Distin- In fact, Liz was an enterprising, 24-7 report- and personality broke down any barriers that guished Alumna of the University of for er. Later at the White House as Lady Bird John- ever tried standing in her way. She was the frst whom the Liz Sutherland Carpenter Distin- son’s chief of staff and press secretary, Liz set woman elected vice president of the student guished Visiting Lectureship was named. She new precedents for openness, fairness and body at UT; a reporter, writer and editor from knew everyone – from poets to politicians, ac- her days at Austin High to Washington, DC tivists to artists – and she used that infuence GYY@]n7UfdYbhYf and well into her 80s; frst woman executive to help anyone who asked. (For more on her cbdU[Y,*

+$ Uigh]bkcaUb5DF=@ &$%$ LOSE WEIGHT. NO CRAVINGS! NO HUNGER! KcbXYf6U`` @]n7UfdYbhYf ZfcadU[Y*, ZfcadU[Y+$ known among her students as humor in public office. As a friend, she was delightful, demanding, Let our medical expertise in weight loss help you lose weight now and keep it off “drama mamma,” looks for- forever. Medications, personalized nutritional analysis and counseling, ward to the ball each year. Fri- loyal, giving and a joy to be with. individualized exercise plans. day dresses in an elaborate Liz lived life to the fullest. Or, in her words, “I lived as outrageous- STUBBORN FAT OR CELLULITE THAT WON’T GO AWAY? Fairy Godmother costume Call about Mesotherapy and LipoDissolve ly as my family, friends and the call 512-371-9885 to schedule your FREE consultation! (which she designs and makes law allowed.” I loved her dearly herself as a costume designer and will miss her tremendously. by night for local community – Gwen Gibson theatre groups) and along with her enthusiastic students, Two of Liz’s most dominant N O W S E L L I N G : spreads cheer and grant “wish- traits were her penchant for hu- Oxbow organic food, treats, es” to the children. Friday be- mor and her determination to ac- came involved in the event at complish whatever she set her supplements and bedding its inception because her dear mind to. for small animals! friend Cooper asked her. Throughout her life, she loved “How could I turn her down? to laugh almost as much as she liked to give others a chuckle, 4604 Burnet Road (1 block north of 45th St.) It sounded so lovely, so fun, and she carried that need for hu- 512-452-3883 and so important. I was hon- mor into her old age. www.barknpurr.com ored!” says Friday, who this Liz was the only 80-some- Mon-Sat: 8am - 7pm year has one student who will thing-year old I knew who had Sun: 11am - 6pm be in her W&W troupe and watched every Jerry who will also beneft from the show more than once. In fact, she services of the organization. scheduled her weekly in-home Nature’s treasures Consider joining W&W massage for 9:30 p.m. so that she could indulge in two of her big- OF TEXAS for their Wonder Ball this year, on April 10th, from 6 to 9 p.m. gest pleasures simultaneously: Daughters ages 4-12 are invit- laughing at Jerry and crew on ed, but everyone is encouraged television while getting a work- out under the strong hands of to atend and enjoy lots of fab- Nancy, her masseuse. “You are Specialty Gift Items located inside TOPS warehouses: ulous taste treats, DJ music the only exercise I get,” Liz would 1100 E. 5th St. and dance the night away in a tell her as the therapist kneaded Jewelry, Gems, & Crystals 512.472.5015 open Sundays magical, colorful seting that her tired muscles, grown tense Large Designer Minerals we rock 2307 Kramer Lane Salt Lamps & Fossils NTROCKS.com 512.833.7760 any child would be bedazzled from writing articles at the com- puter and giving several funny Beads & Findings Georgetown by. Grant your daughter or 4300 South IH-35 your favorite litle girl one speeches that week. Crystal & Tibetan Bowls 512.864.7319 wish, and make hundreds of When 85-year-old Liz heard children in Austin happier and that Seinfeld was coming to Aus- CHILDREN’S EYE CENTER stronger. tin, she quickly determined to Visit wondersandworries. talk to the comedian face-to-face. org for ticket information, or Accustomed to setting up meet- ings with senators, presidents EXCELLENCE to make a donation to this im- IN SURGICAL and the like, the seasoned ad- portant organization. Won- vance woman put all of her pub- MEDICAL ders & Worries services are al- & CARE lic relations skills into play. When OF THE CHILD’S EYE ways free of charge, and they she hit one dead end and then Melinda Rainey, MD serve over 2600 people in the another with Seinfeld’s people, Brad Lockhart, MD Central Texas area. she didn’t give up. Calling upon 512.458.1922 her extensive network from her www.SQUINT.us Variety magazine days in 1912 W. 35TH3Ts!USTIN 48

,* Uigh]bkcaUb5DF=@ &$%$ Washington, Liz finally found hysterically. Apparently they the right person to unlock the kept themselves – and every- protective barrier around her one else on board – enter- comedic hero. tained. Molly said, “It’s a good Is Your Child Having Afterward, Liz’s backstage thing that plane didn’t go TROUBLE In School? photo with a quizzical, but ac- down because there wouldn’t commodating Jerry Seinfeld sat be a single laugh left in Tex- 512.657.0126 on the bedside table for the rest as.” of her life, alongside those of her This morning I grieve at CALL FOR A FREE with Hillary and , our loss of Liz Carpenter, but I PHONE CONSULTATION Queen Elizabeth and various also grieve because of the ADD - ADHD, DYSLEXIA · AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS other dignitaries. Jerry rested combined loss of Barbara Jor- APLUSLEARNINGTEXAS.COM his arm on the back of Liz’s sig- dan, , Lady Bird nature red electric cart, her sexy Johnson, Molly Ivins AND Liz answer to a wheelchair, and Carpenter. We are poorer for s Obstetrics and Gynecology both smiled for the camera. lacking their voices and their s OB Call Sharing with Excellent – PJ Pierce leadership. We must find new Midwives and Physicians leaders to play the front and s Collaborative Health Promotion s In Office Surgery To remember Liz is to re- central roles. s Major and Minor Gyn Surgery member her ways and her hu- Death has ended the early sIncontinence Management & Surgery mor. life of Liz Carpenter, but it has sMenopausal Management She created great political not ended our relationship sBio-identical Hormone Therapy humor. Molly Ivins always said with her. MARTHA E. SCHMITZ, MD,FACOG & BARBARA HOWARD, WHNP-BC that Liz’s response to hearing In my mind’s eye she and that had orga- Lady Bird are on a bench in Most insurance accepted, Bilingual (Spanish). nized Texans for Nixon in ’72 heaven laughing and talking. 512.394.0054 • Fax 512.394.0098 4007 James Casey, #A240 • Austin, Texas 78745 was the most astute, funniest Liz’s secret service name was political quote ever. Liz said, “It’s “Springtime;” how appropriate a good thing that John Connally that her body quit on the first ACHIEVE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOALS IN 2010... wasn’t at the Alamo; he would day of spring. And Lady Bird safely and naturally! have organized Texans for San- and Liz worked so hard for the Specializing in HCG Weight Loss ta Ana.” beauty of wildflowers. How Most HCG dieters report a loss of 1 to 2 lbs. a day After her second bout of appropriate that this spring breast cancer surgery, she has been cool and wet, ideal HCG SPRING SPECIAL helped Molly Ivins and me sup- for wildflowers. The bluebon- $380 Per Person - Includes Everything port the fight against breast can- nets in my yard are already BEST PRICES IN TOWN cer in part by creating humor. I blooming, and I bet there will OFFER EXPIRES 4/30/2010 can still hear her voice at so be fields of them all over this Additional Services: Colon Hydrotherapy • Skin Care • Medical • Nutrition • many related events saying, part of Texas. Each field will Mesotherapy • Chiropractic Services · Cortisol Testing · Food Sensitivity Testing “I’ve always heard, ‘A tit for a tat.’ remind us of Liz and Lady INTERNAL HEALTH CENTER I’ve just given up a tit; but what is Bird. 512.451.7501 • droptheweightnow.com • 3001 Bee Cave Road, Suite 210 Austin, TX a tat and when do I get it?” – Sarah Weddington Anyone who knows Liz knows that she hated to fly. But, In lieu of flowers, the Car- as always, she sought to make penter family has requested 7Uaa]YÈg something good out of some- that memorial gifts be made to Ygh"%-,* thing that made her unhappy. the Liz Carpenter Memorial 7f]hhYf One stormy spring night, Liz Fund at the Austin Community 7UfY was flying back from . Foundation: Also on the plane by coinci- (austincommunityfoundation. Serving dence were Cactus and Peggy org). Northwest Pryor, Molly Ivins and Ann Rich- Austin ards. Arriving in Austin, they Cammie Harper, Owner • In-home loving pet care came off the plane laughing offce: 512.250.8768 • Small pet boarding available cell: 512.947.3332 • Bonded for your protection

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