civil rights lawyer joannie chang dies at 41

Sad news... Joannie Chiung-Yueh Chang, a Bay Area civil rights attorney who worked on the nation's first paid family medical leave law and helped San Francisco implement its ground-breaking health coverage ordinance, died last week in New York City of stomach cancer. She was 41: Joannie Chang, civil rights lawyer, dies at 41.

"She was a fabulous lawyer ... with a great heart, compassion for workers, their families, immigrants," said attorney Patricia Shiu, who supervised Ms. Chang at the Employment Law Center and worked with her on California's 2002 medical leave law. Shiu now heads the Obama administration's Office of Federal Contract Compliance.

The law allows employees to take six weeks of leave each year, with partial pay, to care for an ailing family member or newborn child. Shiu said Ms. Chang worked with unions and other labor advocates to pass the law, then took part in drafting regulations to enforce it.

The measure's author, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, gave Ms. Chang a state commendation award in 2002. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors read testimonials to her on Tuesday.

"She inspired us and made sure that we were focused on civil rights issues," board President David Chiu, who met and worked with Ms. Chang when both were young lawyers, said in an interview.

What I find most sad is that Ms. Chang was diagnosed just seven weeks ago while pregnant with twin daughters, who were born June 29. She sounds like an amazing woman who devoted and dedicated herself to community and family. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday in Brooklyn, and another will be held in San Francisco this month.