Senator Jennie Forehand Pays Tribute to Jean Cryor

By Senator Jennie Forehand (D-17).

Jean Cryor was a rare combination, professional and studious, together with a great sense of humor and an ability to walk in other people’s shoes. Her life experiences gave her a positive and common sense approach to public policy which made her very effective as a legislator. Whether it was fighting for transportation or ensuring that our State funded education and kept college affordable for our kids, she was a great contributor to our lives in Montgomery County and the State.

As a member of the Maryland Commission for Women and the Board of the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center, she served as a valuable member and her influence will be obvious when the Center opens to the public.

Jean and I had served as Presidents of the Maryland’s Women’s Caucus at different times, and we worked closely on many issues. I will miss our midnight telephone “visits” when we talked about our grandchildren or solved problems in very innovative ways. During our last “visit,” she never mentioned her illness, but she gave me a list of her friends and of things she wanted me to do prior to my next year’s re-election campaign. She will be remembered as an outstanding public servant and a model of civility and kindness.

Senator Forehand and Delegate Cryor served in the General Assembly together from January 1995 through January 2007.