Chicago native Eunice Z. Edgar (nee Zoghlin), former director of the Wisconsin branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (1976-1992), died Oct. 2 after a 17-year battle with ovarian and breast cancer. She was 72.
As local ACLU director, she helped oversee legal battles on civil liberties issues ranging from freedom of speech to the rights of female athletes and equal rights for minorities.
She moved to Milwaukee from Syracuse, N.Y., after the sudden death of her husband, Al, in 1969. Here, she raised her four children and completed a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
According to her family, her humor and good nature prevailed through the trials of single motherhood, a myriad of controversial civil rights causes and many bouts with pain and disease. They said family and friends will remember her as a courageous and kind woman, a woman of valor.
She is survived by children Lisa (Max Hoelzl) Edgar, Sharon Edgar, Gary (Terri) Edgar and Bruce (Cristina) Edgar; five grandchildren; sister Estelle (William) Katz; and brothers Gilbert (Cari) Zoghlin and Leon (Sarisa) Zoghlin.
Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
Her favorite charities included the ACLU of Wisconsin and Gilda’s Club.
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