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| known_for = [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]] (since 2009)
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'''Esther Lipsen Coopersmith''' (January 18, 1930 – March 26, 2024) was an American diplomat, philanthropist, political lobbyist, and a champion for women's equality. For over 70 years, she organized gatherings, from small dinners to grand formal ones, across the world. Her client list varied from politicians and visiting royals to academics and actors. In 2009, [[UNESCO]] named her a [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador|goodwill ambassador]] for "fostering intercultural dialogue".<ref name="TWDCoopersmith">{{cite web |last1=Luxner |first1=Larry |title=Esther Coopersmith reflects on her legacy of 'bringing people together' |url=https://washdiplomat.com/esther-coopersmith-reflects-on-her-legacy-of-bringing-people-together/ |publisher=[[The Washington Diplomat]] |access-date=March 29, 2024 |date=October 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Esther Lipsen Coopersmith |url= https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/esther-coopersmith-obituary?id=54737918 |website=Legacy.com |access-date=March 29, 2024 |date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>
'''Esther Lipsen Coopersmith''' (January 18, 1930 – March 26, 2024) was an American diplomat, philanthropist, political lobbyist, and a champion for women's equality. For over 70 years, she organized gatherings, from small dinners to grand formal ones, across the world. Her client list varied from politicians and visiting royals to academics and actors. In 2009, [[UNESCO]] named her a [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador|goodwill ambassador]] for "fostering intercultural dialogue".<ref name="TWDCoopersmith">{{cite web |last1=Luxner |first1=Larry |title=Esther Coopersmith reflects on her legacy of 'bringing people together' |url=https://washdiplomat.com/esther-coopersmith-reflects-on-her-legacy-of-bringing-people-together/ |publisher=[[The Washington Diplomat]] |access-date=March 29, 2024 |date=October 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="ELC">{{cite web |title=Esther Lipsen Coopersmith |url= https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/esther-coopersmith-obituary?id=54737918 |website=Legacy.com |access-date=March 29, 2024 |date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Early years==
Esther Lipsen was born on January 18, 1930, in [[Des Moines, Iowa]]; her father was an emigrant cattle dealer from present-day [[Moldova]] and her mother was a homemaker from [[Romania]].<ref name="TWDCoopersmith" /><ref name="ELC" /> They moved to [[Mazomanie, Wisconsin]], and Lipsen became interested in politics at age 8, after listening to President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[fireside chats]] on the radio.<ref name="ELC" /> She became actively involved in politics in 1952 at the [[University of Wisconsin]], when she filled in to chair an event for the presidential Democratic hopeful, Tennessee senator [[Estes Kefauver]], who went on to win the Wisconsin [[primary election]] and 11 of the 15 others across the country, even defeating sitting President [[Harry S. Truman]], who then withdrew his re-election campaign.<ref name="TWDCoopersmith" /><ref name="ELC" /> Kefauver asked Lipsen to open and manage a campaign office for the [[Chicago]] convention. Not having any experience with such a job, she asked a rival politician's aides for advice. Despite Kefauver's popularity and campaign success, he lost the Democratic nomination to Illinois governor [[Adlai Stevenson II]]. Lipsen then organized campaign clubs for the [[Young Democrats of America]] to support Stevenson. Although Kefauver invited her to [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1954, he did not hire her, despite his desire to run in future presidential elections.<ref name="TWDCoopersmith" /><ref name="ELC" />

==Wife, diplomat, and ambassador==
While in Washington D.C., Lipsen met real estate developer Jack Coopersmith. They married in 1954 and had four children within 8 years.<ref name="TWDCoopersmith" /><ref name="ELC" /> In 1964, Jack remained in Washington, while Esther traveled the country for President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s family, hosting barbecues for his two daughters. She also served as one of Johnson's [[White House]] staff.<ref name="TWDCoopersmith" /><ref name="ELC" />


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 11:31, 29 March 2024

Esther Coopersmith
Coopersmith (left) with Nancy Pelosi in 2023
Born
Esther Lipsen

(1930-01-18)January 18, 1930
DiedMarch 26, 2024(2024-03-26) (aged 94)
Occupations
  • Diplomat
  • political lobbyist
Years active1952–2023
Known forUNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (since 2009)

Esther Lipsen Coopersmith (January 18, 1930 – March 26, 2024) was an American diplomat, philanthropist, political lobbyist, and a champion for women's equality. For over 70 years, she organized gatherings, from small dinners to grand formal ones, across the world. Her client list varied from politicians and visiting royals to academics and actors. In 2009, UNESCO named her a goodwill ambassador for "fostering intercultural dialogue".[1][2]

Early years

Esther Lipsen was born on January 18, 1930, in Des Moines, Iowa; her father was an emigrant cattle dealer from present-day Moldova and her mother was a homemaker from Romania.[1][2] They moved to Mazomanie, Wisconsin, and Lipsen became interested in politics at age 8, after listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats on the radio.[2] She became actively involved in politics in 1952 at the University of Wisconsin, when she filled in to chair an event for the presidential Democratic hopeful, Tennessee senator Estes Kefauver, who went on to win the Wisconsin primary election and 11 of the 15 others across the country, even defeating sitting President Harry S. Truman, who then withdrew his re-election campaign.[1][2] Kefauver asked Lipsen to open and manage a campaign office for the Chicago convention. Not having any experience with such a job, she asked a rival politician's aides for advice. Despite Kefauver's popularity and campaign success, he lost the Democratic nomination to Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson II. Lipsen then organized campaign clubs for the Young Democrats of America to support Stevenson. Although Kefauver invited her to Washington, D.C. in 1954, he did not hire her, despite his desire to run in future presidential elections.[1][2]

Wife, diplomat, and ambassador

While in Washington D.C., Lipsen met real estate developer Jack Coopersmith. They married in 1954 and had four children within 8 years.[1][2] In 1964, Jack remained in Washington, while Esther traveled the country for President Lyndon B. Johnson's family, hosting barbecues for his two daughters. She also served as one of Johnson's White House staff.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Luxner, Larry (October 4, 2022). "Esther Coopersmith reflects on her legacy of 'bringing people together'". The Washington Diplomat. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Esther Lipsen Coopersmith". Legacy.com. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.