UPDATE: A memorial service for Midge Costanza has been scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Town & Country Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle N. in the Mission Valley area of San Diego. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Midge Costanza Institute for the Study of Politics and Public Policy at San Diego State University.

by Chris Nava, Vice President for Political Action

Midge Costanza

As San Diego mourns the loss of giant among women leaders, Midge Costanza, there are many of us for whom the loss is personal. You see, Midge was my hero. I admired the passion and energy with which she championed the rights of women, abortion rights, gay and lesbian rights, and a host of other social justice issues.

Midge first came to prominence when she became the first woman to serve in a senior staff position on the White House staff during the Carter administration. Although her career led her to a number of political positions at the state and local levels, Midge always remained true to her calling of making our country a better place for women. She worked diligently to get women elected to office. She became friend, supporter, motivator, and coach to many of our local women leaders and politicians.

Midge had an amazing ability to captivate an audience. Her appearances, whether to debate, inform, energize or inspire, always brought appreciative audiences who came to learn at the feet of a very wise and witty speaker. I was one of those who came to learn from her and I always came away aspiring to be like her. To have been touched by Midge is to have felt the embrace of a giant of a woman.

Midge passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 23, surrounded by family and friends.

Read Midge’s obituary in The New York Times, March 25, 2010. Read Midge’s obituary in The San Diego Union-Tribune, March 24, 2010.