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Former Rep Jerry Belanger: 'Truly a Union Believer'
Gerald A. Belanger, a retired CWA Representative in District 2, died in his sleep June 29 of a ruptured aneurysm on his brain. He was 60.
Belanger, a former president of Local 2108 in Landover, Md., joined the staff in September 1981. He serviced numerous locals throughout District 2, representing members at AT&T, C&P Telephone and other CWA employers.
"Jerry lived and died union. He truly was a union believer," said his brother, Robert, also a former Local 2108 president.
Lynette Snell, a District 2 organizer and former vice president of the local, remembered his kindness when she became a new steward in 1974. "Jerry was my mentor," she said. "He encouraged me to grow and develop as a union leader."
Belanger went to work for C&P Telephone in April 1964 as a central office technician and became active in Local 2108. He served as a steward and chief steward, education committee chairman, executive vice president and finally as full-time president. As a local officer he participated in organizing campaigns at Atlantic Telephone and Vitro and bargained for members at General Dynamics. He also lobbied on safety and health issues and edited the local's newsletter.
His first staff assignment in 1981 was in Richmond, Va. In February 1984 he transferred to the District 2 office in Washington, D.C. and two years later he was reassigned to Timonium, Md. In June of that year he returned to Washington. He worked out of the Charleston, W.Va., office from March 1988 until February 1992, when he resigned to return to his job at the phone company.
Belanger is survived by his brother, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two sisters, Suzanne Chroniger of Gettysburg, Pa., and Marie Pickard of Alexandria, Va.; a son, Gerald, of Annapolis, Md.; three daughters, Lisa Gibbs of Lothian, Md., and Collette Bivens and Jeanine VanWormer of Lusby, Md., and three grandsons.
Belanger, a former president of Local 2108 in Landover, Md., joined the staff in September 1981. He serviced numerous locals throughout District 2, representing members at AT&T, C&P Telephone and other CWA employers.
"Jerry lived and died union. He truly was a union believer," said his brother, Robert, also a former Local 2108 president.
Lynette Snell, a District 2 organizer and former vice president of the local, remembered his kindness when she became a new steward in 1974. "Jerry was my mentor," she said. "He encouraged me to grow and develop as a union leader."
Belanger went to work for C&P Telephone in April 1964 as a central office technician and became active in Local 2108. He served as a steward and chief steward, education committee chairman, executive vice president and finally as full-time president. As a local officer he participated in organizing campaigns at Atlantic Telephone and Vitro and bargained for members at General Dynamics. He also lobbied on safety and health issues and edited the local's newsletter.
His first staff assignment in 1981 was in Richmond, Va. In February 1984 he transferred to the District 2 office in Washington, D.C. and two years later he was reassigned to Timonium, Md. In June of that year he returned to Washington. He worked out of the Charleston, W.Va., office from March 1988 until February 1992, when he resigned to return to his job at the phone company.
Belanger is survived by his brother, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two sisters, Suzanne Chroniger of Gettysburg, Pa., and Marie Pickard of Alexandria, Va.; a son, Gerald, of Annapolis, Md.; three daughters, Lisa Gibbs of Lothian, Md., and Collette Bivens and Jeanine VanWormer of Lusby, Md., and three grandsons.