January 23, 2006
Washington, DC — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) extends its deepest condolences to the Nader family, on the passing of Rose Bouziane Nader, 100, from congestive heart failure, according to her daughter Clair Nader. She is survived by sister Angele Bouziane Mokhiber, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two daughters, Dr. Claire Nader of Washington D.C. and Winsted, Connecticut, and Anthropology Professor Laura Nader of Berkeley, California, a son, Ralph Nader of Washington, D.C., national consumer advocate and former presidential candidate; three grandchildren and three great-grand children.
Born in Zahle, Lebanon on February 7, 1906, Rose Nader became a high school teacher of French and Arabic. She married Nathra Nader in 1925, and immigrated to the United States shortly thereafter, settling with her husband, a businessman, in Danbury and then in Winsted, Connecticut where they raised four children.
In the nineteen fifties, after the destructive hurricane and flood of Winsted in 1955 — the third disastrous flood there in thirty years- she famously pressed then Senator Prescott Bush in a public gathering to pledge to push for a dry dam by not letting go of his handshake until he had promised to do so. And it was built. No more floods since. After the flood damaged the local movie theater she also arranged for a community room at the local YMCA to be devoted to the recreational needs of local youngsters who otherwise might be loitering on the streets. She also initiated and led the Women‘s Club International Relations Committee, bringing distinguished speakers to the Town to inform the citizenry about world affairs.
Mrs. Nader was active in adult education in Connecticut, where she and her students were featured on a statewide television show in the nineteen fifties. Her public interests ranged from the local to the state to the global level, as a member of Peace Action, Co-op America, and as President of The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest. She fought for the expansion and later the preservation of the Winsted Memorial Hospital.
In 1991, she authored the book It Happened in the Kitchen, which contained her philosophy of child rearing, the intimate connection between good food and diverse kitchen table/family conversations and some 100 recipes to nourish this food and thought combination. The last segment includes many perceptive observations by her husband, Mr. Nader, during discussions with their children. She was featured that year on the Phil Donahue Show with her book, which received wide circulation.
Mrs. Nader also contributed articles to several publications, including one in the New York Times on the irony of those common assurances of credibility (“in all honesty,” “to be perfectly frank.”) In the U.S. Postal Service‘s magazine she wrote praising so-called “junk mail” from citizen organizations that inform you about what is going on in their world and give you a choice to help expand their efforts. Click here to read Rose Bouziane Nader’s obituary.
ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said “Rose Nader was a role model for her children and community. She had a dramatic impact on all those who came in contact with her.” ADC Chair James Abourezk added, “This is a great loss not only for Rose‘s family, but for the entire Arab-American community and the country.”
A memorial service will be held at a date to be determined.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest, an educational foundation, PO Box 500, Winsted, CT 06098.
For further comments about the life of Rose Nader, you may wish to contact Phil Donahue at 212-564-3234, David Halberstam at 212-580-4835, and Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen‘s Health Research Group, at 202-588-7735, and publisher-author Richard Grossman at 860-824-0367.
Contact telephone number is: 860-738-1262.