Myrtle Ester Einhorn

Myrtle Einhorn first became involved as a public activist and community leader in the early sixties when she advocated for, and established a new play yard for the children in the neighborhood in an inner city community in Baltimore. The children needed a “clean, safe place to play,” so Mrs. Einhorn organized the people of the neighborhood, who helped clear out an old vacant lot and constructed a playground complete with swings and a sliding board.

Mrs. Einhorn was also responsible for developing a community center for children in the neighborhood. The Center was a safe place for the children to go and play games, sing songs, and have fun.

Her good deeds and community involvement did not go unnoticed. In 1965, a new organization was being formed for the elderly disadvantaged. This organization was entitled “Operation REASON” (Responding To The Elderly’s Abilities and Sicknesses Otherwise Neglected). The Office of Economic Opportunity was aware of Mrs. Einhorn’s public activism and asked Mrs. Einhorn to join the new program. Mrs. Einhorn began as a health aide and was later promoted to supervisor under Barbara Mikulski, who was also employed by Operation REASON at the same time.

Operation REASON was an experimental program that provided assistance for the elderly disadvantaged living in Baltimore City. The funding for this program would only be available from OEO until June 20, 1967. Mrs. Einhorn was very much aware of how the elderly had been helped through Operation REASON, and she was determined that she would do everything in her power to make sure it did not stop. She organized a letter writing campaign to elected officials at every level, from the Mayor of Baltimore, to the Senate, and even to President Lyndon Johnson.

A mass meeting was held in March of 1967 to hear testimony on the need to continue this valuable program for the elderly. A surprise telegram from President Johnson was read promising his support for the program that continues to this day.

Mrs. Einhorn then organized a “Thank You, Mr. President” march to the White House in Washington, D. C. to thank President Johnson for his support.

Myrtle Einhorn continued in her supervisory role with the Health Department until her retirement in the mid 70’s.

Myrtle Einhorn was born in 1922 in West Virginia into a life of poverty. Her mother died of TB when Myrtle was five years old. She was then raised in 15 different foster homes. “People only took me in because it was during the depression and they needed me for farm work” Myrtle said. “I cried myself to sleep every night, but I promised the Lord that if I lived through it, then I would live my life helping my brothers and sisters. I feel that we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord.”

Before moving to the Mariner Health Center in Bel Air in July, 2002, Myrtle was active with the “Sharing Table” in Edgewood. The “Myrtle Einhorn’s Children’s Fund” was recently formed in this group to help monetarily challenged children purchase school supplies.

Myrtle Einhorn was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Einhorn; her daughter Mabel Miller; and her great-great-granddaughter, Isabella Sechrist. Survivors include three sons; Elmer Miller of National City, CA, Paul Miller of Abingdon, MD, and Samuel Cornel Einhorn of Seven Valleys, PA; two daughters, NoEl Hoffeld of Shakopee, MN, and Judy Benser of Joppa, MD; ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Ryan Dixon, Brian Collison, William Hammett, Paul Scott Patterson, Ron Sollod , Rob Einsig, John Prine, and Clif Bradley.