Death of a Role Model

A Pinellas County (FL) icon passed away Sunday, December 14, 2008. Her name was Emily Coeyman.

So what? you might ask. So what, indeed.

I first read about Emily in a 1999 article in the St. Petersburg (FL) Times (http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/41049266.html?dids=41049266:41049266&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+2%2C+1999&author=ADAM+C.+SMITH&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Keeping+them+honest). There was a photo showing an older woman being helped into or out of a cab enroute to/from a St. Petersburg City Council meeting. The article, written by Adam C. Putnam, begins, "Many government officials have come and gone, but St. Petersburg resident Emily Rogers Coeyman remains. Few mortals achieve the status of single name stardom: Cher, Prince, Madonna, Fabio. For Pinellas County bureaucrats and politicians, there is another: Emily.

"As in, 'Emily, your three minutes are up. Emily?. . .' Or, 'Do we have anyone who wishes to speak at this public hearing? Okay, Emily. . .'"

I began driving for DART (Demand Response Transportation), Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority's (PSTA) service for people with physical or mental handicaps around this time. This was how I met Emily. I made the mistake of calling her "Ms. Coeyman." "It's Emily," she corrected me. That's what everyone called her, even though she was in her late 70s.

She went to St. Pete City Council meetings, Pinellas County Government meetings, anywhere where she felt that the voice of reason (not to mention the voice of the people) needed to be heard. Emily spoke up for all of us.

One day, I picked her up from a city council meeting. The mayor and city council were considering selling the city-owned hospital (Bayfront Medical Center) to a health-care group run by the Catholic Church. This infuriated Emily.

Why? I asked her.

Ms. Coeyman--sorry, Emily--had nothing against the Catholic Church, but she did have something to say about women's rights. "Did you know that when the Church owns a hospital, that hospital's ability to provide abortions goes right out the window?" she asked. Rape victims would have problems getting the morning after pill; talks about birth control would be severely limited. "It's not right." She was 79 at the time, well beyond needing birth control, but wanting to keep it accessible for other women.

"I asked them (city council) if they knew that what they were thinking of doing would hurt the women in Pinellas County, especially the majority without millions of dollars to go elsewhere for reproductive services."

The city backed down.

She also challenged the Pinellas County School Board (http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51852412.html?dids=51852412:51852412&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jul+28%2C+1994&author=ANNE+LINDBERG&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=3.B&desc=Tax+increase+for+Pinellas+schools+gets+early+okay), as well as the Pinellas County County Commissioners.

She was a strong woman who stood up for the little people, who learned how to speak up. Her epilogue from the St. Petersburg Times ran this morning. (http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1614156811.html?dids=1614156811:1614156811&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+18%2C+2008&author=STEPHANIE+HAYE&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=USING+HER+TIME+WISELY)

Emily Coeyman was 87 when she passed away Sunday. She was my hero, a role model for us all.

Peace, Emily. You rocked!