In Memoriam: Joanna Misnik

Our union mourns the passing of Joanna Misnik, a former communications specialist for Local 73 and a respected activist in Chicago.

Joanna passed away at Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, IL on September 3, 2025; three days before her 82nd birthday.

Joanna was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest of four children, two of whom died early. Her mother was a “stay at home” mom; her father owned and ran an auto parts yard. She attended Case Western Reserve before earning her undergraduate degree in History from Wayne State University in middle age. She lived in Paris, Brussels, Nashville, New York City, and Detroit, before coming to Chicago.

Her entire life was devoted to social causes, from racial and sexual equality to opposition to the Vietnam war and other foreign wars, and to the economic and social improvement of the lives of working people. In Chicago, she was a communications specialist for SEIU Local 73 and hosted a public access cable TV interview program to publicize, among other things, fights that her union was waging to improve the lives of their diverse members. She was devoted to the members of her union, be they traffic guards, toll collectors, or employees of the Chicago Public Schools or the University of Illinois at Chicago.

She played a leading role in strategizing how to amplify political expressions to the left of the Democratic Party, such as the Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders campaigns, formations like the Labor Party Advocates and the Democratic Socialist of America and sought to unify left currents who shared goals but had separate organizations. Her strategic insights and incisive written analyses will be missed by many.

She is survived by nieces Lenore Nicastro and Shawna Misnik and great-nephews Nick and Jadon Misnik.

Local 73 will always remember Joanna for her dedication and service. We keep her family members in our thoughts.

Services are being planned. Please check back to this website.