34 NOVEMBER 2020 By Rachael Bouley Alice L. Bendheim was known as a fierce supporter of civil liberties who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. The mother of four co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona in 1959, and for 60 years she never stopped fighting for the freedoms and causes she cared for so deeply. Bendheim passed away in September at the age of 90, but her children and the ACLU of Arizona community said they will always remember her passion and determination. As a former schoolteacher turned lawyer, Bendheim was outspoken on many significant issues affecting Arizonans and Americans in general. She joined Arizona’s ACLU group in 1954 before it was an official affiliate of the national organization. Her commitment never wavered as she worked hard to strengthen ACLU’s efforts during the 1960s civil rights movement and the feminist movement in the 1970s. Bendheim’s family said she was eager to support civil rights, but it wasn’t always easy to do in a traditionally conservative state like Arizona. Her work with the ACLU led her to lose her job as a teacher due to concerns she may have had an “undue inf luence” on her students. However, this only furthered her passion for protecting civil liberties. “It bothered her yet inspired her and raised her passion to a certain degree. She had to fight that – she just thought that people’s rights should come first, and they should all be treated fairly,” Bendheim’s daughter, Ruth Schaefer, said. “She was always an advocate for free speech.” Bendheim focused much of her time on freedom of expression and the treatment of prisoners and their rights. Unlike other moms at that time, she worked while also studying to become a lawyer. She represented clients primarily in divorce and child custody cases. Her career and family didn’t stop her from serving as president, secretary and treasurer of the ACLU board of directors as well as a member of the National ACLU Advisory Council and Board. She became the longest-serving member of ACLU of Arizona after taking on these responsibilities for almost 60 years. Last November, Bendheim was awarded the ACLU of Arizona’s Civil Libertarian of the Year award at an event celebrating the nonprofit’s 60th anniversary. “She inspired me to do my best, and all the typical mom things, but also taught me how to speak up for myself and help other people who may not be able to help themselves,” Schaefer said. Her children say their mother always needed a purpose, and she never failed to find a cause to keep her on her toes and heavily involved in the community. Most people who knew Bendheim recall her penchant for letting her thoughts be known. “She didn’t breathe without a strong opinion,” Schaefer said. “She didn’t like what was going on right now. For the future of our country, she’d want a world where people have differences but can solve them peacefully without so much friction.” ACLU of AZ co-founder remembered for her work in civil rights Alice L. Bendheim. Visiting Egypt, 1992. With her newborn daughter Ruth, 1962. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BENDHEIM FAMILY Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available Service Learning for All Ages Come see what else makes us special on Tour Day on November 23 from 8:00am – 2:00pm. Visit our classrooms and meet our teachers, by appointment only. To book your tour, please call our office at 602-957-7010. 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 Representing students of Arizona universities, community colleges and high schools, as well as other emerging Arizona artists since 1993. 4130 n marshall way . scottsdale . 480.946.5076 artonegalleryinc.com • facebook.com/artonegalleryinc Scan to see the  rst Art One Show SEASON TWO PREMIERE of the Art One Show Meet 9-year-old artist Grayson Barrett

JEFF fields JEFF fields JEFF The National Association of REALTORS ® announced Jeff Fields, with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Scottsdale, as one its five 2020 Good Neighbor Award winners. As a volunteer and past board president of nonprofit Teen Lifeline, Fields has served more than 28,000 youth through a peer-to-peer teen crisis hotline while providing community education on suicide prevention. NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards honor 10 Realtors® annually for making an extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work. Over the past 21 years, the Good Neighbor Awards program has awarded nearly $1.4 million in grants to more than 200 REALTOR ® led nonprofits. Their impact has been felt in 40 states, 15 countries and in Puerto Rico. “Our Good Neighbor Award winners leave a remarkable impact on their communities every year, but everything these Realtors® have done in 2020 is even more impressive and more commendable,” said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, Calif. Fields became passionate about saving teens from what he calls “the most preventable death” after losing several friends to suicide. With the award, Fields will receive a $10,000 grant for his charity and will be featured in the November-December issue of Realtor® Magazine In lieu of the traditional ceremony held every year at the REALTORS® Conference and Expo, each winner will also be honored by their local Realtor® associations over the coming months. “Congratulations to all of the Good Neighbor Award recipients, on behalf of everyone at realtor.com®,” said realtor. com® CMO Mickey Neuberger. “In an extraordinary year, these Realtors® inspire us to care about others and contribute to making our communities a better place.” I am proud to honor Jeff Fields for dedicating his time and passion to giving hope to teens who had none. “ ” - President Vince Malta More information about the Good Neighbor Awards is available at nar.realtor/gna. The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. To read his full story, go to magazine.realtor/JeffFields SPONSORED CONTENT