Editor’s Note: Liz Abzug, daughter of the late Congresswoman Bella Abzug, a champion of women’s rights— who also introduced the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which was passed by the Congress in 1974, allowing women to get a credit card or mortgage in their own name without having to get a man co-sign— wrote this beautiful tribute to Gloria Steinem, whom she considered an aunt.

Liz Abzug and Gloria Steinem

A huge figure, a woman leader like no other in our country’s political and cultural life, and someone so significant in my personal life, is gone. Gloria Steinem died September 2 in Manhattan at the age of 92 .

One of the leaders of the 20th- and 21st-century feminist movements, a lifelong, impactful, unrelentingly persistent activist (who had a great way with words), renowned journalist, and prolific author of many books, it’s hard to put into words what her life and the impact of her death means to me politically, but just as much and maybe even more so, to me personally

As one of the preeminent mothers of the modern feminist movement, a founder of the Ms. Magazine and the Ms. Foundation, a lifelong activist and a humanist with lots of love to give, and a very, very close and dear friend of my mother’s as they worked side by side to change the American landscape for women.

And a dear friend to me. I have so many memories of “growing up” (literally ) with Gloria.

I always think of how Mom took Gloria under her wing and was Gloria’s main political mentor and a kind of surrogate mom to her. Mom loved Gloria, and sometimes it was almost like Mom acted as a protective Lioness over her cub (that would be Gloria ).

I was in my twenties when Gloria first came into our family‘s life.

I have so many years of different kinds of memories of Mom and Gloria, and many meaningful events in our lives, my family’s and in my own life.

Her presence in all of Mom’s many political campaigns, and in my own campaign for New York City Council in 1991, is all now flashing through my mind!

She truly adored both my mother and my dad, Martin!

And I know the insights Mom shared with Gloria about politics and life in general were extremely important to Gloria… and helped to shape Gloria’s view of politics and life.

For me, as I think through all of the years seeing her with Mom, my dad, and how she was actually a part of our Abzug family, she felt like an aunt to me, and then thinking about all of my conversations with her throughout the years, it’s like I “grew up” with Gloria. I loved her, and greatly respected her just like so many thousands did.

Back in the 70s, when she first came into my life, it definitely felt like she was an ever-present member of our (Abzug) family….

Of course, I always had enormous respect for her and so admired Gloria as a leading feminist and, like millions of other women (and men) in our country and in the world, loved to watch her in action! She and I had great conversations about politics, feminism, civil rights, and, of course, we often talked about Mom.

Every time I would go to Gloria’s house to visit her throughout the years, even in the most recent years, one of the first things she said when I sat down in her living room would always be, ” Look at that hat” proudly pointing to one of Mom’s hats that she gave Gloria and she displayed prominently in her apartment! She cherished that hat!

Gloria and I had some wonderful conversations, and I am very thankful to her for being one of the founding board members of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI). She was a big, generous supporter of BALI from when I first founded the organization in 2005.

It’s hard for me and all of her other friends, supporters, and admirers to imagine a world without Gloria leading the charge and fighting for women’s rights and full gender equality.

But I gotta think and smile as I think about how Gloria has now joined my mom and the great Dolly Parton in heaven… maybe Dolly will sing to Mom and Gloria—Mom would love that, as many know, and those who wouldn’t know, Mom loved music and to sing along!

Mom and now Gloria are going to strategize and advise us from above on how we must continue the fight to achieve full gender equality for women and girls!

So here’s to the one and only, irreplaceable Gloria Steinem, forever the great feminist leader, activist, and writer— we love and thank you for all you have done, especially on behalf of women in our country and worldwide! Your legacy lives on.

Famous Last Words: Gloria Steinem

Before her death, activist Gloria Steinem shared her final, heartfelt message with the world, knowing this interview would not air until she was gone. Watch it on Netflix.

Liz Abzug is the Founder and President of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI), a nonprofit whose mission is to inspire youth, including youth from underrepresented groups, such as female-identifying, LGBTQI, and gender-expansive individuals, to become effective, dynamic, and visionary 21st century leaders as well as active and creative participants in civic, political, corporate, and community life.