Published in the Pawtucket Times on May 5, 2003

During her 7 years, Mabel Anderson wore many hats – teacher, dedicated wife to George, loving mother to her children Jon and Jane, state representative and writer of children’s books.

Mabel played a key role representing Pawtucket’s District 77. Once she was elected to the Rhode Island General Assembly, she would eventually be re-elected nine more times. She rose through the Democratic leadership ranks and ultimately would for 10 years as speaker pro-tem, sometimes presiding over  House legislative sessions.

As a state representative, Mabel used her growing power and influence to advocate for the needs of Ocean State seniors.

Her efforts led to the passage of legislation that would add a grandfather clause to drug-coverage provisions of insurance plans. Under the newly enacted law, any physician authorized by the Department of  Health to prescribe medicine would be allowed to prescribe medication previously on, or not on, the insurer’s formulary if it was deemed “medically necessary.”

To many, Mable was a tireless worker on behalf of Pawtucket’s elderly population. Joan Crawley, director of Pawtucket’s Leon Mathieu Senior Center, said Mabel possessed a rare quality for a politician.

“She wasn’t swayed by popular opinion and she never stopped to see which way the wind was blowing,” she said.

Mabel always voted her conscience, always striving to represent seniors in her legislative district, Crawley noted.

According to Crawley, her advocacy on behalf of senior transportation was relentless. “She called me late last Thursday afternoon when she heard the hospital’s contract to provide transportation for the RIDE program was in jeopardy. Even though she was no longer a lawmaker, Mabel told me she was willing to champion this cause.”

Crawley said she had called her to discuss the transportation issue on Friday at noon, just a few hours before her untimely death.

George Anderson, Mabel’s husband of more than 40 years, recalled his wife’s constituency work.

“Mabel worked hard to represent older constituents who were being ignored by the state’s bureaucracy,” he said.

Anderson remembered when Mabel was first elected and was relatively unrecognized. She would stand in line behind an older constituent. IF the person was not assisted, she would simply introduce herself as a state representative and any problems would be worked out, he said.

Often times, a quick trip to the grocery store turned into several hours. Anderson said, as constituents would come up to her along every aisle just to say “hello,” catch up or discuss problems.

And Mabel never forgot those close to her who needed assistance, Anderson said. When she went to Memorial Hospital to participate in a program to help her cope with arthritis, she asked her husband for a check. The amount just happened to cover the enrollment fee of two persons not one, he said, allowing a friend who was on a fixed income to participate.

Audrey Salvas, 67, a long-time Pawtucket resident knew who to call when she had problems.

“When we needed to find out something, all we had to do was call Mabel,” said Salvas.

Mabel quickly straightened out a drug problem in the Beverage Hill area, noted Salvas. She pushed to erect a fence around the Prospect Heights project, which ultimately reduced drug trafficking and noise.

Mary Francis Campbell, 89, a former educator and President of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council (PSCC), added that Mabel aways backed PSCC’s legislative proposals. “The Pawtucket lawmaker worked closely with PSCC in its 15 years of existence,” she said.

With a strong determination to remain independent, Mabel ultimately overcame a stroke she suffered in 1992 that temporary left her impaired  on her right side. Her love for public service gave her the needed energy to stay actively involved long past retirement, fighting for senior issues, the underdogs and for her beloved City of Pawtucket. It also enabled her to reach out the younger generations to develop new skills to learn.

Using the same veracity and gusto she used for all her other interests she held close to her heart; Mabel was not afraid to experience new things. With a passion for living, this former state representative was ready to enjoy and pursue new interests, such as learning how to use a computer to recalling her younger days on the family farm and turning these stories into children’s book.