Fresno Branch Loses Two ‘Driving Forces’: Ellie Bluestein and Nora DeWitt

Ellie Bluestein, left and Nora DeWitt, right, both longtime activists in the Fresno Branch.

By Leni Villagomez Reeves and Darien De Lu

May 2020

Fresno, California WILPF recently lost two of its longtime activist members, Nora DeWitt and Ellie Bluestein–both driving forces in making Fresno WILPF the vibrant organization it is today. Below are short bios with longer ones to come in the next Peace & Freedom.

Ellie Bluestein (1928-2020)

Ellie Bluestein founded the Fresno Branch of WILPF in 1965. Ellie greeted, welcomed, and recruited members continuously over the years. She was the go-to person for anything and everything.

Ellie also was a founder of the Fresno Raging Grannies group. In a 2018 interview, she said, “I love to sing! I love the chance to challenge the status quo. Raging Grannies is not just a slogan. It’s how I feel.”

When she was a new mother, Ellie found herself empathizing with mothers and their babies around the world, which ended up merging with her passion for peace, when she learned that in time of war it is women and children who disproportionately suffer starvation and death. These concerns led to multiple efforts: her participation in a Models Cities Program, teaching and mediation work, and her involvement with the Chicano Civil Rights Committee on issues of police harassment, which became an extensive, years-long effort to bring an Independent Police Auditor position to Fresno.

A woman of strength, power, and compassion, Ellie had a command about her that made you want to do what she suggested. She had a way of being with people of all kinds of backgrounds. She and her husband Gene headed a musical household that hosted many of America’s greatest folk performers.
 
Everyone knew Ellie, and no one could say no to her! At the WILPF table at the Fresno Branch’s annual crafts fair, she was an expert at getting members to renew their membership and bring in new members. In 2015 Ellie organized the WILPF exhibit, “One Hundred Years of Dangerous Women” at the Madden Library in Fresno. Another community project that was dear to her heart was the Women’s Oral History Project published as “20 Fresno Women Committed to Change,” which was replicated by her in Japan as “14 Tokyo Women Committed to Change.”

Ellie saw her community and activism work as an extension of her family life, saying: “They work together. My attitude towards my family as being a haven for peace and fulfillment, working things out together, living together in a humane way, is extended into the community.”

A longer bio of Ellie sent by her family can be found here.

Nora DeWitt (1940-2020)

Nora was born in Hungary in 1940, and her early years, under Nazi occupation and later as a war refugee, may have been her impetus for being a social justice advocate. Nora’s family immigrated to Australia, ultimately buying a farm on the outskirts of Brisbane, where Nora did high school and college, then she went on to study for a PhD in microbiology.

In 1975 she moved to Fresno, where her husband Hiram’s mother lived. Nora and Hiram had given birth to Sophia, who was born premature and later diagnosed with cerebal palsy. Nora worked in immunology for 30 years at Valley Children’s Hospital.

Her involvement with WILPF began with the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign. Under Nora and Hiram’s leadership as county chairpersons, the Freeze passed in Fresno County. In the early 1990s, Nora became membership chair of WILPF. She stayed in that position for over twenty years, bringing to it her strong, quiet presence.

Under her leadership, she watched membership grow, and saw through Fresno community events such as co-sponsoring speakers, installing the Jane Addams sculpture at Fresno State’s Peace Garden, and children’s book presentations in branch libraries. Nora also mentored a social work intern.

Nora credited WILPF with the joy of working with like-minded friends. She demonstrated a lifelong dedication to peace and social justice.

Remembering Ellie and Nora

Fresno branch members and other friends sent remembrances of Ellie and Nora for Facebook. Here are some excerpts:

Nora DeWitt and Ellie Bluestein…join Jane Addams in their amazing contributions to the status of women everywhere. I loved being in Nora’s strong, quiet presence and learning from her. She was a loving, steadfast contributor to the strength of Fresno WILPF through her time as branch membership chairperson.

For me, Ellie is not gone; I feel her presence daily. That’s who Ellie is/was. I first met her at a branch retreat; I was fresh into retirement and looking for some way to productively use my time. I didn't know much about WILPF. At the retreat it was announced that a new Branch Chair was needed. Somehow, and I still don't quite know how, I came out of that gathering being that person. I said that I would not do it without the help of Ellie and Joan Poss. They did that, guiding me and the board on a daily basis. Ellie was never afraid to give her insights. They were given in a strong, loving way. That was Ellie: strong and loving. Ellie, I know you will continue to guide WILPF. Thank you for that, and for being Ellie.
             —Jean Hays

My memories of Ellie are many. Ellie “was” Fresno WILPF! Being a founder and active member she was respected and the go to person for anything and everything. I loved it when we would talk, just hearing her voice made my day.

For many years Ellie was always at the WILPF table at the annual Crafts Faire. When she was at the table she was an expert at getting members to renew their membership and bring in new members. So many people knew and loved Ellie that they would stop by the table to say hello and she would have them right where she needed them! “Remember no one could say no to Ellie.”
 
In recent years, Ellie had slowed down and stayed home more, so when she arrived at the Crafts Faire, there was a certain excitement that came over the crowd. In recent years, I remembering hearing throughout the Crafts Faire, “Ellie just arrived!” Many attendees would make their way to greet her, and Ellie was always glad to see her many longtime friends.

She was our “Star” for a very long time and will continue to shine on the Fresno WILPF Branch forever!
             —Bev Fitzpatrick

In this time of sheltering in place, my acre garden is my respite and a place of remembrance. Each morning with my coffee, I walk the pathways and remember friends by the plants they have given me. Years ago when Ellie moved from their Alamo home to her Fig Garden condo, she gifted me with some of her forget-me-nots and white violets. They have survived the drought and proliferated. The forget-me-nots remind me of our forty-year friendship and our one-year project: Twenty Women Committed to Change. She interviewed; I photographed twenty radical Fresno women.

In 1989 I was in a portrait photography class at Fresno City College and wanted to use my time creating something meaningful and lasting. I had met some interesting and amazing women in Fresno who had been early members of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Each had a long history of political and social involvement. I wanted to capture their history and likeness before they were gone. Ellie was first on my list as she had organized the Fresno WILPF group in 1965. I visited her in her home, set up my tripod and Hasselblad camera. She cooperated and then said, “Let’s sit and have some tea.”

“Tell me again about your project.” I told her. She asked to see my list of women. Looking it over, she remarked: “I don’t see any women of color on your list. Why is that?” “I don’t know any,” I replied. “Well, I do,” she said. “I like this project. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do. I’ll tell you what.  You photograph and I’ll interview!” Whew! I heaved a sigh of relief. Ellie, first on my list, would not allow herself to be a focus in the project.

I could never say no to Ellie. And in 2015 Ellie again called on me to help design and produce the WILPF exhibit, “One Hundred Years of Dangerous Women” at the Madden Library. In that project I was finally able to honor Ellie with an enlarged copy of the photo I took of her 25 years earlier. Her photo appeared side by side with Jane Addams, the first president of WILPF.

Now as I wander the garden each morning, her forget-me-nots remind me of our forty years of active friendship. There’s more but I wanted Ellie to have this much.   
             —Pat Wolk

A memory of Ellie: In 2008 I went to a Raging Granny meeting for the first time. Ellie was there greeting and welcoming me and other newcomers. She had a command about her that made you want to do what she suggested. She said you have to join WILPF & Grannies, and I did. It was the best thing I did—as a result, I found my community here in Fresno.

As someone said, “you can’t say ‘NO’ to Ellie.” The last visit I had with Ellie (four weeks before she passed), she had comments about WILPF and the Library Committee. Even with an oxygen tank connected to her body, she wanted to talk about WILPF. I loved her strength, her power, her compassion.

Memories of Nora: Nora was a quiet, competent membership chair for WILPF for so many years. She did her job without fanfare and not needing praise. What an amazing life she lived, not with fanfare but with grace and beauty.
             —Ann Carruthers

Ellie just had a way of being with people of all kinds of backgrounds. She had an understanding of pain in the world and of difficulties; she wanted to do something about this – and she did! She focused on important things that were beyond the personal.

She was always open to new things, even learned to enjoy opera with us. She was our dearest friend and Stan and I loved her a lot.
             —Joan Poss