The GCIU family lost two leaders over the past two months with the deaths of retired New York Local 2N Pres. William J. Kennedy on Oct. 4 and the death on Sept. 4 of retired Philadelphia 4C business representative Frederick Day Sr.

Kennedy, 78, led his local through an 88-day strike against the New York Times, the Daily News, and The New York Post in 1978 and won an agreement that blocked management from proposed job cuts.

He became a pressman for the Daily News in 1941 and, with time out for service with the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, was an active union member. He was elected Local 2N president in 1965 and served in that office until his retirement in 1987.

Day, 77, served as business representative for 30 years and "was truly loved by his local," according to his successor, Business Representative Jim Murphy.

He was also active in veterans' organizations, including American Legion Post 370 in Magnolia, N.J., and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7334 in Somerdale, N.J.