The first woman admitted to the Rotary International club after it opened its doors to women in 1986.
She was finally invited to become a member in November 1986, the year a state appellate court upheld a controversial action by members of the Duarte chapter of the club, which had admitted three women to the group in 1977. At the time, Rotary International responded by revoking the Duarte club's charter.
"Our records show that Esther Johnson was admitted immediately after the appellate court decision was made in 1986," Jack Siegal, a past president of the Santa Monica chapter, said in an interview Wednesday. "She was already working with us as the executive secretary, and that got her through the admission process right away."
"My mother was honored to be invited to be a Rotarian, she so admired the work of the club," Sharon Johnson said.
She was finally invited to become a member in November 1986, the year a state appellate court upheld a controversial action by members of the Duarte chapter of the club, which had admitted three women to the group in 1977. At the time, Rotary International responded by revoking the Duarte club's charter.
"Our records show that Esther Johnson was admitted immediately after the appellate court decision was made in 1986," Jack Siegal, a past president of the Santa Monica chapter, said in an interview Wednesday. "She was already working with us as the executive secretary, and that got her through the admission process right away."
"My mother was honored to be invited to be a Rotarian, she so admired the work of the club," Sharon Johnson said.
The first woman admitted to the Rotary International club after it opened its doors to women in 1986.
She was finally invited to become a member in November 1986, the year a state appellate court upheld a controversial action by members of the Duarte chapter of the club, which had admitted three women to the group in 1977. At the time, Rotary International responded by revoking the Duarte club's charter.
"Our records show that Esther Johnson was admitted immediately after the appellate court decision was made in 1986," Jack Siegal, a past president of the Santa Monica chapter, said in an interview Wednesday. "She was already working with us as the executive secretary, and that got her through the admission process right away."
"My mother was honored to be invited to be a Rotarian, she so admired the work of the club," Sharon Johnson said.
She was finally invited to become a member in November 1986, the year a state appellate court upheld a controversial action by members of the Duarte chapter of the club, which had admitted three women to the group in 1977. At the time, Rotary International responded by revoking the Duarte club's charter.
"Our records show that Esther Johnson was admitted immediately after the appellate court decision was made in 1986," Jack Siegal, a past president of the Santa Monica chapter, said in an interview Wednesday. "She was already working with us as the executive secretary, and that got her through the admission process right away."
"My mother was honored to be invited to be a Rotarian, she so admired the work of the club," Sharon Johnson said.
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