Mabel Belka was an unsung heroine. Her life was molded by the times she grew up in. And as she grew up she began to understand the forces of society — the oftentimes hidden hand of class in America. Because of her life experiences, Belka was radicalized and became a subscriber to the Daily Worker, the People’s Weekly World’s predecessor.
Belka also planned ahead. She left a generous gift to the PWW to guarantee the working-class, Marxist voice is continued.
The PWW received the following letter from the Belka estate’s executor, which beautifully summarizes this dedicated, woman’s life.
With regard to Mabel Belka, and the bequest she has made to your newspaper:
In contemplating her life and the values she shared with both her husbands, who died before her, she felt a contribution to your newspaper would be a proper statement of the values they shared and their vision, or hope for a better world.
Mabel had a strong sense of social responsibility: to her community, to her family, and to all peoples of the world.
Mabel believed in education, the exchange of ideas, and cooperation as a way to achieve human progress. She valued your newspaper as a source of news and information and she was a longtime reader and subscriber.
As a child born to a homesteader’s family, she learned early in life that it is necessary for people to work together to obtain what is necessary for human survival.
During her life Mabel experienced the Dust Bowl, the Depression era, the need for Social Security, and the sacrifice and loss of her first husband Ernst Kozlowski. Ernst was a volunteer who fought to defend the Spanish Republic against Franco and fascism. He was later killed in the Philippines during his service with the U.S. Army in World War II.
Mabel and her second husband, Walter Belka, were strong supporters of the union movement, the civil rights movement and the Democratic Party. In later years they were very active in the Elder Citizen’s Coalition, which concerned itself with senior issues and the need for a system of national health care that would be available to all.
Although Mabel had no children of her own, she had many friends and relatives who were dear to her. Another reason for making her bequest was Mabel’s belief that this would be a simple way to do something of benefit for all her friends and relatives.
Mabel’s family and friends hope you will be able to contribute in her behalf to the creation of a better world with your coverage of the issues of her concern.
Mabel Belka’s dreams are all of our dreams. If you are considering making a bequest or advance gift to the People’s Weekly World, please contact Terrie Albano at (773) 446-9920 ext. 201 or Pat Barile at (646) 437-5317 for details.
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