Alma Osborne, a lifelong labor activist who rose through the union ranks to become the head of the DC 37 Retirees Association, died on June 25, 2004 at the age of 92.

She became President of the DC 37 Retirees Association in 1991 and retired in 2001. Under her leadership, the Association flourished, gaining strength and new members.

Osborne was active in the union movement for 44 years. She started working as a clerical worker at Bellevue Hospital in 1953.

She dedicated her life to the labor movement. She served with distinction as the leader of Local 1784 before it merged with NYC Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549.

She was one of the first black women to head a union at DC 37 when she became the head of Local 1784. Later, she headed the Hospital Chapter of Local 1549 after Local 1748 merged with Local 1549.

"Alma was a very popular and effective leader who drew in many people who hadn't been active before," said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. "She was the type of leader who put the members' interests ahead of her own. She left her mark on all she did, and she sure left her mark on DC 37."