Rest in Peace, Granny D

Granny DWhether you were able to meet the delightful Doris “Granny D” Haddock in person or only saw her on television or in her documentary, Run Granny Run, you know that this woman had a certain sparkle, a certain gumption, that so many people just don’t have these days.

You also know that she spoke for the people, and in 2000, at the age of 90 she walked all across the United States to promote the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act—which successfully did pass.

Granny D died last Tuesday, March 9 at her home in Dublin, New Hampshire. Up until just four days before her death, she was still up and working for the American people, election reform, and general justice for all.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw Run, Granny, Run. When she spoke out so fervently—“I am the angry grandmother!”—I got goosebumps. This is the kind of woman I want to be when I’m a grandmother, I remember thinking. She’s amazing!

I had the honor of interviewing Granny D via a phone call a few years ago. She was so gracious and wonderful; I had to remember that I was talking with an elderly woman, of course, and her breathing problems, while apparent in her speech, had no bearing in her passion and vivacity for justice. She talked with me about the importance of standing up for injustice, no matter what it was or where it occurred.

Her first act of protest was when she was a young mother. Outraged that the local pool allowed boys to swim and not girls, she took action with a letter campaign and was active ever since.

How many grandmothers, after all, can you say worked to save an Inuit village from a bombing—or visit Capitol Hill on a weekly basis? She also ran for Senate in 2004.

Granny D did. She walked over 3,000 miles to give a voice to campaign finance reform, urging the country to allow people to run for election in a fair manner. Tired of the rich ruling elections because of their means and opportunity, she knew she had to do something about it—and boy did she!

Having survived two world wars and the Great Depression, Granny D was 100 years old when she died. She had two children, eight grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Rest in peace, Granny D—and may we all walk a mile (or a few) in your shoes someday.