Retired Dist. 7 VP Louise Caddell Passes Away

Louise Caddell was sworn in as District 7 vice president in 2008.

The CWA family is mourning retired District 7 Vice President Louise Caddell who died Oct. 4.

"Louise moved across districts and sectors in CWA in an almost unique way," said CWA President Larry Cohen. "Her death leaves us grieving but also with an opportunity to work even harder and carry out her wish for CWA: 'don't give up and build our union.'"

An active leader of Local 6143 in San Antonio, Caddell joined CWA staff in 1988, first in Communications and Technologies in New Jersey and later in District 7. Caddell was named assistant to the District 7 Vice President in 1999 and in 2005 came to Washington to head up CWA's legislative and political work. 

Battling acute leukemia, she returned to District 7 and her position as assistant to the vice president. In 2008 Caddell was elected District 7 vice president. She worked to resolve the extremely difficult contract negotiations with Qwest Communications and most recently had been working with CWA's public safety workers.

When Caddell, age 60, retired on Sept. 22, 2009, Mary Taylor, Caddell's assistant, was designated as district vice president by the CWA Executive Board.

Political action was a critical part of Caddell's life, and for more than 30 years, she helped coordinate CWA's and labor's efforts to support Democratic candidates for Texas statewide offices and the presidency. 

Caddell was named Democrat of the Year by the San Antonio Democratic League and was honored by the San Antonio AFL-CIO and Texas State Democratic Executive Committee.

A memorial service will be held on Sat., Oct. 17, at 3 p.m., at the Newcomer Family Funeral Home, 190 Potomac, Aurora, Colorado, 80011. 

In lieu of flowers, Caddell's family has asked that memorial contributions be made to: The Denver Hospice, 501 South Cherry Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80246, marked for the "new inpatient care center." More information is available at www.theDenverhospice.org.