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Celebrating Vanessa Merton

Tributes to Vanessa

(click on any image to see full text)

"Amazing worker advocate, amazing human being and amazing colleague" -Agata B

"Amazing worker advocate, amazing human being and amazing colleague" -Agata B

"Passion and commitment... contagious and inspiring" -Beth L

"Passion and commitment... contagious and inspiring" -Beth L

"Always in a good mood and spirits when help was requested" -Maria P

"Always in a good mood and spirits when help was requested" -Maria P

"A sense of fun and welcome for all justice seekers" -Phil T N

"A sense of fun and welcome for all justice seekers" -Phil T N

"A true stalwart's stalwart for peace and justice" -Susan R

"A true stalwart's stalwart for peace and justice" -Susan R

"Larger than life in a world with too few real heroes" -Alicia F

"Larger than life in a world with too few real heroes" -Alicia F

"Take her for all in all, we shall not look upon her like again" -Steve S

"Take her for all in all, we shall not look upon her like again" -Steve S

"Extremely bright, fun-loving high achiever" -Tom L

"Extremely bright, fun-loving high achiever" -Tom L

"Helped me with big decisions, through tough times and was always an ear to bitch to" -Monica S

"Helped me with big decisions, through tough times and was always an ear to bitch to" -Monica S

"Didn't always agree but had great respect for each other" -Ina R N

"Didn't always agree but had great respect for each other" -Ina R N

"Always asking the question, is what I am doing or am about to do, furthering justice?" -William A-H

"Always asking the question, is what I am doing or am about to do, furthering justice?" -William A-H

"Helping others in her community to bring us closer to peace and equality" -Isabella B

"Helping others in her community to bring us closer to peace and equality" -Isabella B

"Always in awe of her incredible mind and generous heart" -Victor G

"Always in awe of her incredible mind and generous heart" -Victor G

"Expertise. Generosity. Tirelessness" -Michelle C-K

"Expertise. Generosity. Tirelessness" -Michelle C-K

"She has made this world a better place" -Mary K-P

"She has made this world a better place" -Mary K-P

"Thank you for teaching me to fight for my clients with everything I’ve got" -Lesly S

"Thank you for teaching me to fight for my clients with everything I’ve got" -Lesly S

"Stood up for me, at great personal risk and great personal loss" -Leilani R

"Stood up for me, at great personal risk and great personal loss" -Leilani R

"Transformed me into the litigator that I am today" -Carlos D S

"Transformed me into the litigator that I am today" -Carlos D S

"I wouldn’t be where I am without her" -Abigael M N

"I wouldn’t be where I am without her" -Abigael M N

"I will miss her wry smile and warm heart" -David S

"I will miss her wry smile and warm heart" -David S

"You came through in so many ways" -Ida S

"You came through in so many ways" -Ida S

"Touched thousands of lives for the better, both directly and through those she taught" -Jessica P

"Touched thousands of lives for the better, both directly and through those she taught" -Jessica P

"What a visceral pleasure it was to watch her work" -John F

"What a visceral pleasure it was to watch her work" -John F

"A tough task master" -Kevin L B

"A tough task master" -Kevin L B

"I will miss the fire in your voice" -Robert W

"I will miss the fire in your voice" -Robert W

"Your pleas for us young people to actually do something disruptive to fight the power" -Hayley B

"Your pleas for us young people to actually do something disruptive to fight the power" -Hayley B

"In the shade of an oak": a video tribute from Pace Law School faculty + staff

"In the shade of an oak": a video tribute from Pace Law School faculty + staff

"Her wit and humor - with a soupçon or more of sarcasm - enlivened many a tedious meeting" -Bob D

"Her wit and humor - with a soupçon or more of sarcasm - enlivened many a tedious meeting" -Bob D

Vanessa wearing a multi-colored sweater & sharing an embrace with a young boy

Vanessa wearing a multi-colored sweater & sharing an embrace with a young boy

Vanessa, pregnant, sitting up in a bed next to a bunch of files, a floor lamp, and a pillow of a striped cat wearing a red cape. The wall is mustard yellow & includes a large butterfly decoaration.

Vanessa, pregnant, sitting up in a bed next to a bunch of files, a floor lamp, and a pillow of a striped cat wearing a red cape. The wall is mustard yellow & includes a large butterfly decoaration.

"The world is a much better place because of you" -Sara A J

"The world is a much better place because of you" -Sara A J

"An intelligence that intimidates and invites" -Samantha L

"An intelligence that intimidates and invites" -Samantha L

"The magic that was me learning from you" -Mary Lu B

"The magic that was me learning from you" -Mary Lu B

"Merry eyes and a mischief grin" -Neil M

"Merry eyes and a mischief grin" -Neil M

"What can I say about the sun, the moon, and the stars?" -Joe R

"What can I say about the sun, the moon, and the stars?" -Joe R

"Expanding access to justice": a memo by Neighbors Link & Pace Community Law Practice staff + alumni

"Expanding access to justice": a memo by Neighbors Link & Pace Community Law Practice staff + alumni

"But did you really make out with Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones?" -Tim B

"But did you really make out with Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones?" -Tim B

"A debt of gratitude": video from Neighbors Link & Pace Community Law Practice staff + alumni

"A debt of gratitude": video from Neighbors Link & Pace Community Law Practice staff + alumni

"Vanessa tried so many times against the odds and made the difference for so many people" -HoH Dems

"Vanessa tried so many times against the odds and made the difference for so many people" -HoH Dems

"Always been a touchstone that I constantly return to" -Janet C

"Always been a touchstone that I constantly return to" -Janet C

"Vanessa’s rage against the machine never got in the way of being kind" -Helen H & Steve L

"Vanessa’s rage against the machine never got in the way of being kind" -Helen H & Steve L

"Funny and cutting, sarcastic and biting, and warm and fuzzy all at once" -Peter L

"Funny and cutting, sarcastic and biting, and warm and fuzzy all at once" -Peter L

"Your guidance, support, has tailored the lawyer that I am today" -Mariekendy W

"Your guidance, support, has tailored the lawyer that I am today" -Mariekendy W

"She drives herself relentlessly like she is being chased by a demon" -Lissa G

"She drives herself relentlessly like she is being chased by a demon" -Lissa G

"Never shirked from taking the difficult case and taught us to zealously advocate" -Stanley S

"Never shirked from taking the difficult case and taught us to zealously advocate" -Stanley S

“'That bee knows something', Vanessa thinks” -Chris T

“'That bee knows something', Vanessa thinks” -Chris T

"Thousands of acts paving the way for the next generation" -Ari, Margot, Kaja, Tavi

"Thousands of acts paving the way for the next generation" -Ari, Margot, Kaja, Tavi

"Such breadth of knowledge and acuity of legal but also movement strategy" -Leila Z

"Such breadth of knowledge and acuity of legal but also movement strategy" -Leila Z

"Working with you taught me values I won’t forget: excellence, advocacy, and respect" -Miguel S R

"Working with you taught me values I won’t forget: excellence, advocacy, and respect" -Miguel S R

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