This memorial represents a composite of the heartfelt sentiments of four people who worked with Glenn over the years in the aging arena: Jamie Hilton, Alberta Orr, Judy Scott, and Pris Rogers. Pris Rogers read these remarks at the memorial service which was attended by many AFB and ACB staff and other colleagues from the field.
From Judy:
Glenn Plunkett devoted his life to helping others. He was passionate about his work and accepted nothing less from the rest of us. Those of us who knew him well found him to be a true friend and always interested in our work to improve the lives of older people who are experiencing vision problems. With his rich background with Social Security, aging, and visual impairment, Glenn forgot more than many of us will ever learn. His style was never intimidating. Glenn always made himself available to help and his guidance will be missed by all of us.
From Pris:
I first met Glenn when he came to work for the Governmental Relations Office of AFB, having retired from the Social Security Administration. He was a real mentor when it came to aging issues and politics. One of his passions was to see the Chapter 2 program for older blind really take off and acquire the funding it needs to be effective. He was recognized by NCSAB for his efforts regarding Chapter 2 during the 1992 reauthorization of the Rehab Act and I was pleased to be a part of that.
From Jamie:
Even after Glenn’s last retirement from ACB, he worked several times a week at a senior citizens center, helping people with Social Security problems, housing, health care issues, and taxes. He also took several courses toward a second master’s degree. One of my fondest memories of Glenn was the way he introduced me to everyone who had anything to do with aging when I joined the AFB staff in 1984. I remember how involved he was with the Indian Project that Alberta Orr and I did in 1987 and 1988. He played an important part in training in New Mexico with the Navajo Nation.
From Alberta:
Glenn was still working on aging projects up until the very end. He wrote me a letter when we first started to develop the Self-Advocacy Curriculum and asked to be involved. He did a very thorough review of the curriculum and emphasized, as always, the importance of taking responsibility for one’s own actions.
From Pris:
During my conversation with him, just before his death, he asked what had happened with Chapter 2 appropriations. He was happy to hear that we had achieved another funding milestone. Another passion he had was to give older blind issues recognition in the Older Americans Act. That, too, finally happened in 2000.
Glenn was a tireless advocate. Writing in the Festschrift in honor of Father Thomas Carroll, he stated: “Self-advocacy can be formal and informal but it cannot be impersonal.” Although Glenn did not personally experience visual impairment, he certainly knew how to make his advocacy personal and meaningful to those he was trying to reach.
From Judy:
Through his work, Glenn had an impact on the lives of thousands of individuals throughout the country, most of whom never had the opportunity to know him. On behalf of those who knew Glenn both personally and professionally, I want to say “thank you, Glenn” for making a difference in our lives and to let you know that your “passion” will live on through us.