On Sunday, three months short of her 90th
birthday, former Lt. Governor Connie Binsfeld died in hospice care. Ms.
Binsfeld was hailed as champion for children in statements from colleagues, but
also played a pivotal role in protecting women from domestic abuse and in
protecting the Great Lakes sand dunes.
She was elected to the State House of
Representatives in 1974 and subsequently made significant contributions towards
making Michigan one of the first states to deal with domestic violence issues.
Later that decade she was elected the assistant to the Republican leader. She
hesitantly ran for Senate in 1982, and was made assistant Senate Majority
Leader after her election.
Before becoming Lieutenant Governor, Ms.
Binsfeld made national news for her role in spearheading legislation that made
contracts for surrogate babies illegal in Michigan.
Ms. Binsfeld shattered more than a couple of
glass ceilings over the course of her career. She was the first woman to hold
leadership positions in the House, Senate, and the executive branch. Former
Governor John Engler, who surprised even Ms. Binsfeld when he chose her to be
his running mate in the 1990 election, remarked that Ms. Binsfeld “lived an
unbelievable, full life and was successful at everything she did.”
In 1977 she was named Michigan mother of the
year. Later, in 1998, she was named to the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, in
part due to her focus on children’s issues.
A private service will be held in the coming
days, with a public memorial service planned for this summer.