In 1984 Geraldine Ferraro became the symbol of Women's equality when she was the first woman nominated for vice president by a major party. An inspiration to women to all, Ferraro sadly passed away Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston due to complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, which was diagnosed in 1998.
Ferraro was a savvy Democrat from New York with her candidacy that was seen as a potentially powerful weapon to turn the emerging "gender gap" to the advantage of the advantage of the Democratic Party.
Despite the troubles that faced her during her four month campaign she never gave up. She faced marital issues and media chiding her for pro-choice beliefs. "People always ask me, was it worth it? Of course it was worth it!"
Ferraro broke a huge gender barrier and in the next two decades other powerful women have achieved milestones in national politics; Hillary Clinton waged an intense fight for Democratic presidential nomination against Barack Obama and Sarah Palin became the second woman on a major party ticket.
Ferraro was a grade school teacher and prosecutor, dubbed a "tough Democrat" Ferraro never gave up. When she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma she was told she had three to five years to live. However, she never gave up. Obama recognized Ferraro's spirit and passion and said that his daughters, "will grow up in a more equal America because of the life Geraldine Ferraro chose to live."
Ferraro broke many molds and she is an inspiration to us all.
