In Memory Of
Lois A. Haignere
1941
2021
Lois A. Haignere
May 29, 1941 — October 29, 2021
Albany- Dr. Lois Arlene Haignere suffered a stroke and passed away Friday, October 29, 2021. Born in Columbus, OH on May 29, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Eugene Burnham Haignere and Frances Mary Field Haignere and the former wife of Dr. Larry Venham. Lois received her Bachelor degree from Ohio State University and her Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Connecticut. She received many educational honors, including membership in Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board.
Lois was not just a very proud, active feminist in her personal life, but her entire professional career focused on winning pay equity for women and other minorities. She developed an advanced statistical method that clearly demonstrated how working women across different professions from janitorial services to university professors are unjustly paid less than their male equivalent counterparts. Her innovative book, Paychecks, a Guide to Conducting Salary-Equity Studies for Higher Education Faculty served as a blueprint to winning millions in reparations for women and other minorities.
As the Director of the United University Professions (UUP) Research Department, she conducted numerous pay-equity studies at the twenty-nine State University of New York campuses. This research provided evidence for UUP's and the American Association of University Professors' landslide $2.2 million wage-adjustment settlement for some 5,700 women, minority faculty, and professional staff. She had similar success with her research at Penn State University's School of Medicine.
With these successes and her numerous professional publications and lectures, she launched her own Pay-Equity consulting firm, serving as a pay-equity specialist and legal witness on numerous law suits nationally and internationally including in Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden. She also consulted for the League of Women Voters of New York State to create legislation to prevent discriminatory pay practices.
Lois' feminism was evident in every aspect of her personal life. She always sought out women professionals as her personal medical doctors, dentists, lawyers, therapists, etc. In the 1980s, she co-founded Albany's Singles Outreach Support (SOS) group for both single women and men. She loved ballroom dancing and before COVID, she and her husband, Herb, could often be seen on weekends at any of the many Albany-area ballroom dancing locations. She was extremely athletic and prided herself in being able to do ten REGULAR pushups at the age of 80 without effort. She enjoyed swimming, horseback riding, and sailing. She was a skilled sailor and was a lifetime member of the Saratoga Lake Sailing Club, where she was Commodore in the 1980s.
Surviving family members include her husband, Dr. Herbert I. Brown, her daughter, Lyn Dee Venham (Gary Carter); her siblings, Eugene Burnham Haignere, Jr. (Denise), and Dr. Clara Haignere (Bill Potter); and her grandson, Adam Venham-Carter. Her sister, Dr. Joyce Ann Haignere Brannan, pre-deceased her on October 11, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the National Organization of Women (NOW) at https://secure.now.org/rV67rum-cUiJNSutYPDeUA2 . Or send a check to NOW, 1100 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005. Or to the Ms. Magazine at https://secure.everyaction.com/Q38-_8wqHEeYOpLwv8o9HA2 or mail a check to 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 801, Arlington, VA, 22209.
To leave a special message for the family online please visit NewComerAlbany.com
Lois was not just a very proud, active feminist in her personal life, but her entire professional career focused on winning pay equity for women and other minorities. She developed an advanced statistical method that clearly demonstrated how working women across different professions from janitorial services to university professors are unjustly paid less than their male equivalent counterparts. Her innovative book, Paychecks, a Guide to Conducting Salary-Equity Studies for Higher Education Faculty served as a blueprint to winning millions in reparations for women and other minorities.
As the Director of the United University Professions (UUP) Research Department, she conducted numerous pay-equity studies at the twenty-nine State University of New York campuses. This research provided evidence for UUP's and the American Association of University Professors' landslide $2.2 million wage-adjustment settlement for some 5,700 women, minority faculty, and professional staff. She had similar success with her research at Penn State University's School of Medicine.
With these successes and her numerous professional publications and lectures, she launched her own Pay-Equity consulting firm, serving as a pay-equity specialist and legal witness on numerous law suits nationally and internationally including in Canada, New Zealand, and Sweden. She also consulted for the League of Women Voters of New York State to create legislation to prevent discriminatory pay practices.
Lois' feminism was evident in every aspect of her personal life. She always sought out women professionals as her personal medical doctors, dentists, lawyers, therapists, etc. In the 1980s, she co-founded Albany's Singles Outreach Support (SOS) group for both single women and men. She loved ballroom dancing and before COVID, she and her husband, Herb, could often be seen on weekends at any of the many Albany-area ballroom dancing locations. She was extremely athletic and prided herself in being able to do ten REGULAR pushups at the age of 80 without effort. She enjoyed swimming, horseback riding, and sailing. She was a skilled sailor and was a lifetime member of the Saratoga Lake Sailing Club, where she was Commodore in the 1980s.
Surviving family members include her husband, Dr. Herbert I. Brown, her daughter, Lyn Dee Venham (Gary Carter); her siblings, Eugene Burnham Haignere, Jr. (Denise), and Dr. Clara Haignere (Bill Potter); and her grandson, Adam Venham-Carter. Her sister, Dr. Joyce Ann Haignere Brannan, pre-deceased her on October 11, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the National Organization of Women (NOW) at https://secure.now.org/rV67rum-cUiJNSutYPDeUA2 . Or send a check to NOW, 1100 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005. Or to the Ms. Magazine at https://secure.everyaction.com/Q38-_8wqHEeYOpLwv8o9HA2 or mail a check to 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 801, Arlington, VA, 22209.
To leave a special message for the family online please visit NewComerAlbany.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lois A. Haignere, please visit our flower store.
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