Bob Jackson, state director of AARP-NC, and Tom Vitaglione, a fellow with Action for Children NC, retired this summer. These men are irreplaceable advocates in the fight to expand health care to every North Carolinian.
Bob and Tom never took their eyes off the missions of their respective organizations. Bob fought for seniors while Tom advocated for children. But they were never interested in defending only the interests of one section of the population. Bob always understood that seniors have children and grandchildren who they care about and so he demanded that everyone have affordable, quality health insurance. Tom understood that healthy, secure children need healthy, secure parents, which is why he walked the halls of the legislature working to expand health care access to every North Carolinian.
For their efforts, Gov. Bev Perdue awarded both men the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest honor.
Unlike us firebrands at the Health Access Coalition, Bob and Tom always fight with a smile on their faces, they always look for the good in people, and they are both deeply respected by everyone in the state working in the health care field.
Working beside these heroes has been an honor. I doubt either of them will do much sitting in retirement, and I hope they have a few more battles left in them because we still need their counsel, wisdom, and grace.