Perspectives | In Memoriam
A Section 508–conformant HTML version of this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP284.
In Memoriam: Carol Stroebel http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP284
It is with very heavy hearts that the board the last two decades of her life, but she and staff of the Children’s Environmental chose to bless all of us with her passion, Health Network (CEHN) announce the loss expertise, drive, and great intelligence to of our long-time colleague, champion, and advance the field of children’s health and friend Carol Stroebel. Carol, of Winchester, push us to only the highest of standards. Virginia, passed away surrounded by loved Before her work with CEHN, Carol ones on 16 January 2016. earned a BA in journalism from the Carol was diagnosed with cholangioUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison. carcinoma (bile duct cancer) in the fall of Journalism was her first career, but she 2014. Despite this incredible challenge, she quickly gravitated toward public policy remained steadfast in her efforts to protect work. Serving in government, she worked all children from environmental hazards. By for outstanding people, most notably February 2015 she had to step down from Wisconsin Governor Anthony S. Earl her role as CEHN’s Director of Training and Congressman Norman Mineta, and and Policy to focus on her health. Prior to spent 24 years advocating for highly that role, Carol was a critical consultant to important issues like highway safety. CEHN’s mission, serving as Health Policy One of her proudest achievements was Carol Stroebel, 1956–2016 Specialist for 14 years. her contribution to legislation sponsored As a person, Carol was one of the best by Representative Mineta that resulted The arc of history will bend examples of humanity known. Her genuine in the enactment of the Civil Liberties kindness and love for others was transparent of 1988. That legislation provided towards justice only if we make Act to all who met her. Carol had a deep passion redress to Americans of Japanese ancestry for the value and protection of life along who had been interned during World it so. We must be aware that with equality for all. Her wit, humor, dediWar II, an important step forward for we shape this arc every day. cation, and heart will be missed by many human rights in this country. Carol also friends and colleagues. served as Director of Intergovernmental Carol was a skillful, thoughtful, and Affairs for the National Highway Trans intelligent strategist and collaborative portation Safety Administration at the U.S. partner with the important ability to actually make change happen. Department of Transportation during the Clinton administration. Carol had a great passion and desire to truly change the paradigm On 12 November 2015 Carol delivered a remarkable and of how we collectively consider public health, and children’s health memorable speech as she accepted CEHN’s Child Health Policy specifically, placing children at the center of all that we do. The Award (which has been renamed in Carol’s honor along with a new incorporation of environmental considerations into research ques- CEHN summer internship). Speaking as a life-long advocate of tions, training, education, and policy development were all very children’s health, she said: much a part of her diverse skill set and unique ability to serve as a Being a small part of building a new field to help make the change agent. The humble and persistent application of strategy that paradigm shift for us—to put children in the center, to protect children—and putting my hand to work that fed my soul, it is Carol understood so profoundly was, in my opinion, what made a great gift. The arc of history is long, we are told, but it bends Carol remarkable in her work. towards justice, and I have found comfort in that saying, and I Carol’s primary objective was to draw much-needed attention suspect maybe a few of you have as well. But in thinking about it and capacity to children’s vulnerabilities along with providing I also think that adage can be dangerous. … The arc of history a range of effective science-based strategies that could be taken will bend towards justice only if we make it so. We must be to increase their protections. Whether it was work to support aware that we shape this arc every day; where we live, how we live, what we teach our children, even what we buy, affects that and protect the Food Quality Protection Act, the creation and arc. growth of the National Eco-Healthy Child Care® program (http:// www.cehn.org/our-work/eco-healthy-child-care/), or the important Live as though your life has an impact, Carol told us—because it foundation work that led to the Blueprint for Protecting Children’s does. “I didn’t know I was bending history,” she said, “but I made a Environmental Health: An Urgent Call to Action (http://www.cehn. little contribution, and what a great ride it has been.” org/our-work/blueprint-for-protecting-childrens-health/), Carol was a true trailblazer. She could have done so many things with Nsedu Obot Witherspoon
A80
• Environmental Health Perspectives
volume 124 | number 5 | May 2016
A Section 508–conformant HTML version of this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP284.
In Memoriam: Carol Stroebel http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP284
It is with very heavy hearts that the board the last two decades of her life, but she and staff of the Children’s Environmental chose to bless all of us with her passion, Health Network (CEHN) announce the loss expertise, drive, and great intelligence to of our long-time colleague, champion, and advance the field of children’s health and friend Carol Stroebel. Carol, of Winchester, push us to only the highest of standards. Virginia, passed away surrounded by loved Before her work with CEHN, Carol ones on 16 January 2016. earned a BA in journalism from the Carol was diagnosed with cholangioUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison. carcinoma (bile duct cancer) in the fall of Journalism was her first career, but she 2014. Despite this incredible challenge, she quickly gravitated toward public policy remained steadfast in her efforts to protect work. Serving in government, she worked all children from environmental hazards. By for outstanding people, most notably February 2015 she had to step down from Wisconsin Governor Anthony S. Earl her role as CEHN’s Director of Training and Congressman Norman Mineta, and and Policy to focus on her health. Prior to spent 24 years advocating for highly that role, Carol was a critical consultant to important issues like highway safety. CEHN’s mission, serving as Health Policy One of her proudest achievements was Carol Stroebel, 1956–2016 Specialist for 14 years. her contribution to legislation sponsored As a person, Carol was one of the best by Representative Mineta that resulted The arc of history will bend examples of humanity known. Her genuine in the enactment of the Civil Liberties kindness and love for others was transparent of 1988. That legislation provided towards justice only if we make Act to all who met her. Carol had a deep passion redress to Americans of Japanese ancestry for the value and protection of life along who had been interned during World it so. We must be aware that with equality for all. Her wit, humor, dediWar II, an important step forward for we shape this arc every day. cation, and heart will be missed by many human rights in this country. Carol also friends and colleagues. served as Director of Intergovernmental Carol was a skillful, thoughtful, and Affairs for the National Highway Trans intelligent strategist and collaborative portation Safety Administration at the U.S. partner with the important ability to actually make change happen. Department of Transportation during the Clinton administration. Carol had a great passion and desire to truly change the paradigm On 12 November 2015 Carol delivered a remarkable and of how we collectively consider public health, and children’s health memorable speech as she accepted CEHN’s Child Health Policy specifically, placing children at the center of all that we do. The Award (which has been renamed in Carol’s honor along with a new incorporation of environmental considerations into research ques- CEHN summer internship). Speaking as a life-long advocate of tions, training, education, and policy development were all very children’s health, she said: much a part of her diverse skill set and unique ability to serve as a Being a small part of building a new field to help make the change agent. The humble and persistent application of strategy that paradigm shift for us—to put children in the center, to protect children—and putting my hand to work that fed my soul, it is Carol understood so profoundly was, in my opinion, what made a great gift. The arc of history is long, we are told, but it bends Carol remarkable in her work. towards justice, and I have found comfort in that saying, and I Carol’s primary objective was to draw much-needed attention suspect maybe a few of you have as well. But in thinking about it and capacity to children’s vulnerabilities along with providing I also think that adage can be dangerous. … The arc of history a range of effective science-based strategies that could be taken will bend towards justice only if we make it so. We must be to increase their protections. Whether it was work to support aware that we shape this arc every day; where we live, how we live, what we teach our children, even what we buy, affects that and protect the Food Quality Protection Act, the creation and arc. growth of the National Eco-Healthy Child Care® program (http:// www.cehn.org/our-work/eco-healthy-child-care/), or the important Live as though your life has an impact, Carol told us—because it foundation work that led to the Blueprint for Protecting Children’s does. “I didn’t know I was bending history,” she said, “but I made a Environmental Health: An Urgent Call to Action (http://www.cehn. little contribution, and what a great ride it has been.” org/our-work/blueprint-for-protecting-childrens-health/), Carol was a true trailblazer. She could have done so many things with Nsedu Obot Witherspoon
A80
• Environmental Health Perspectives
volume 124 | number 5 | May 2016
