AFT Mourns Loss of George Springer, AFT Northeast Regional Director
and Temporary Administrator of the Washington Teachers Union

WASHINGTON, D.C. – George Springer, 74, a longtime official of the American Federation of Teachers who spent a career working to improve the lives of those in his community, died December 19 after a long illness. 

"George was always even-keeled, a voice of reason, and a problem solver with a steady hand.  He could be tough, but you’d never know it by his understated demeanor.  He was an invaluable asset at the local, state and national levels for the teachers, healthcare workers and public employees for whom he set a wonderful example.  He was engaging and a wonderful friend, and I’ll miss him terribly," said AFT President Edward J. McElroy.

Springer was the Connecticut-based northeast regional director for the American Federation of Teachers since July 2001. He took a two-year leave from that position in January 2003, when he was appointed administrator of the Washington (D.C.) Teachers Union, which the AFT temporarily took over.  Prior to running the AFT's northeast regional office, Springer was the president of the 20,000-member AFT Connecticut state affiliate for 22 years.  He was a vice president of AFT from 1988-2001. 

Springer taught graphic arts and African American history during his 20-year teaching career in New Britain, Conn.  Throughout that period, he held various union leadership positions, including president of the New Britain Federation of Teachers.

Springer had a varied and active life that was dedicated to the labor movement and African American issues, in particular. In addition to his union leadership positions with the AFT, Springer was a member of the National Commission for African American Education, board member of Amistad America Inc., Vice President of the John C. Rogers African American Cultural Center Inc., and past president of the New Britain chapter of the NAACP.

Born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1932, Springer was the seventh of nine children.  He was an undergraduate at the Canal Zone Junior College and Teachers College of Connecticut and received his graduate degree from the University of Hartford.

Springer is survived by his wife Gerri Brown-Springer, four children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

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