Retired Rep Crystal Roberts Led GOTV Efforts in Ohio

Retired CWA Representative Crystal Roberts, well respected for political mobilization work in Ohio, died on June 15 at age 54.

"Crystal was an outstanding example of a CWA union leader," said District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen. "She always worked hard for our union and its members throughout her career."

Roberts joined CWA Local 4302 after going to work as a maintenance administrator for Ameritech in August 1971. Over the course of 27 years, she served as a steward, secretary-treasurer and vice president of the local.

She joined the staff in November 1999 as a CWA representative in Cleveland, where she bargained on behalf of members at Verizon, Century Tel and other employers and had a major role in CWA's get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of friends of working families during the 2004 and 2006 elections. She retired in January.

Roberts is survived by her husband, Paul Roberts; mother, Olga Kinsey; brother, John; sons Jason and Jeremy, stepchildren Kelly Santiago and Paul Jr., and eight grandchildren.