Helen "Frosty" Grossman 

Helen Frost Grossman has been a catalyst for many activities during her more than thirty years’ membership in WILPF. Her leadership has been exemplary. She served as President for four terms, and it’s generally agreed that nobody could chair a public meeting like Frosty! She was astute at delegating responsibility—of necessity because she managed her husband’s medical practice and still does.  (Dr. Charlie Grossman is an active member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and WILPF.) Frosty has served as a role model for many of us.  While serving as treasurer, her expertise and insight shepherded us through thick and thin. She has helped to keep our priorities straight regarding the spending of funds.

Especially meaningful to Frosty was a months-long book study series in the late sixties on black authors, which she initiated.  Free and open to the public at the main library, this highly successful action provided opportunity for learning about the history and problems facing black people, and included books such as “Soul on Ice” by Eldredge Cleaver.

Frosty notes also the meeting of National WILPF at Marylhurst in 1971, with the opening speaker bringing public attention to the farm-worker strike in progress in the Willamette Valley.  Many feel this meeting to be one of our most important and successful events.

On her lunch hour, Frosty participated in WILPF’s weekly, silent vigils against the Vietnam War.  The arrest and imprisonment of a prominent Vietnamese, Madame Than—also a WILPF member—prompted construction of a “tiger cage” to demonstrate the inhumane treatment of prisoners.  The cage consisted of bars on all sides including top and bottom, and required one to sit bent over with knees drawn up.  Frosty was one of those who volunteered to sit in the cage, which was placed on the corner of SW Fifth and Morrison—an experience she remembers as a very long hour! On occasion, notables such as Senator Wayne Morse and author Jonathan Kozol participated in the vigils.

Frosty is quick to remind one that all activities were a group effort.  We take this opportunity to applaud her leadership and diligence in these and many other endeavors.  Thank you, Frosty.

 Written by Johnni Freeborn