Local union loses employee, friend

The Communications Workers of America Local 4730 has lost a renaissance woman.

Employee Bernadette Robinson-Kinzer, 55, died Thursday in her home. Local union president Peter Kaczmarczyk said Robinson-Kinzer was the office manager, kept records and databases up-to-date, served as a union steward and volunteered for community activities.

“She did a little of everything and a lot of everything, and she really was the heart and soul of the local,” he said.

Kaczmarczyk said Robinson-Kinzer was his friend and employee, that, on a personal level, he knows will be missed by a lot of people. He said from a union point of view, Robinson-Kinzer was hardworking and “extremely good” at what she did.

“She was very good at looking at things and evaluating things – getting down to the nitty-gritty,” he said. “I have never known anyone who was better at playing devil’s advocate. ... She will be extremely hard to replace as an employee and impossible to replace as a friend.”
– By Sara Amato