December 2020

Remembering Juanita "Maggie" Cook

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​Maggie Cook was hired with SCRTD on November 18, 1974, as a PAX Information Operator. She retired as a Centrex Operator from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on October 31, 2013. Maggie served transit patrons for 42 years in the Telephone Information Department. As a bilingual operator, she assisted our Hispanic patrons. As a pro-a-printer operator, Maggie provided bus information for our deaf patrons. Finally, as a Centrex operator, she serviced all of Metro, internally and externally, by directing callers to the proper persons and Departments.

Maggie was a strong Union advocate. She served as Recording Secretary, Vice President, and President for TCU Local 1315. Maggie would march tirelessly for the rights of workers to join a union. Maggie protested with the grape pickers during a time when insecticides were harming the workers. She knew Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta personally. Maggie was a dedicated member of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and was an active member on the COP Board. Maggie was also a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CULW) and the Jewish Labor Committee. If there was a fight for Human Rights, Maggie was there. Despite her disability, Maggie was up and running with her crutch in hand. Her email address was havecrutchwilltravel@gmail.com.  Maggie would put all others to shame.

As a friend, Maggie always put others before herself.  Maggie never complained. She was always laughing and joking. Maggie, during her time of grief, instead of her friends comforting her, she would comfort her friends. Maggie was strong, independent, and determined. When she fell down, she would get up joking about the fall. I will miss her. Maggie would say to me, "Olivia, I got your back!"

Maggie leaves behind her granddaughter Jessica; three great-grandchildren, Zoey, Kai, and Alexander; son-in-law, Jimmy; daughter- in-law Diane; a sister-friend Kelso Smith Mouskourova; and a host of Union sisters and brothers.