I wanted to add my own thoughts and feelings to Corey’s blog about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As he wrote, there are many others who eloquently wrote beautiful obituaries which I will not repeat. I just wanted to share my perspective.

As a female, Jewish, lawyer, who started her career in the late 1980’s,  I walked behind RBG. While she could not get a job in a New York City law firm-despite being first in her class at Columbia-I started at a large law firm with one female partner and two women (including me) in my first year class of six. While not enough, I was one step ahead from where RBG stood when she started her career.

I heard about RBG’s passing during family dinner for Rosh Hashanah. I cried. My children were, clearly, uncomfortable with my reaction. To make me feel better, they began discussing women’s rights. I was surprised to hear my children’s perspective. They all felt that, currently, women have the same career opportunities in their chosen professions as men. My stepson specifically mentioned the large number of female partners-and the departments they lead-in the large New York City law firm where he works.

Their perspective made me smile. I pointed out to them that I was able to walk the steps in my career that I did because RBG walked them first. And that they will be able to walk the steps in their careers that they will take also because RBG walked them first.

Rest in peace RBG. You deserve to rest.

“When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg