October 11, 1952 – August 7, 2013
(from 2013) One of our own at the National Women’s Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation (NWCAVE) is now an angel among us as her decade long fight with breast cancer came to an end today.
Rita Burns has been an ongoing supporter and donor of our endeavors and joined our founding advisory council last year.
My best friend for 30 years, Rita was an inspiration to so many including the hundreds of children she taught and mentored for over thirty years in the public school system. Rita was home economics teacher, high school assistant principal, a pilot, activist for animals, an advocate against violence and a voice for humanity. In 1987, she was awarded Florida State “Teacher of the Year” and served on many boards of directors for her professional associations.
Rita beat all the odds when breast cancer attacked her liver almost a decade ago. She lived life to the fullest in her final years; traveling the country and even skydiving with other breast cancer survivors.
Jane and Rita at NWCAT 2010
Two services will be held, one in Ohio and the other in Florida. We will post information once it becomes available on NWCAVE’s Facebook page. We encourage anyone in those areas who support the DREAM…a World Without Violence & Exploitation to attend and show the support of one of our founders and dreamers, Rita Burns!
The family asked in lieu of flowers donations be made in her memory to our organization NWCAVE.
We love you and will miss you my friend!
Michelle
