Gertrude “Trudi” Knopp Meyers passed away early on April 19. Trudi was born in New York in 1928 of German immigrants. She met her husband-to-be Sam Meyers in Miami and they married in 1952. They lived some 15 years in Miami, where they had 3 sons and a daughter, all of whom mourn her now. It was there she began her long career of political activism working for peace and civil rights, as well as her involvement in the Unitarian Church. She continued this work when the family moved to Baton Rouge in 1968. Trudi worked with numerous local and national groups dedicated to peace and human rights, and in the 1970s became active in women’s rights. To satisfy her love of learning and language, Trudi elected to go college and earned a BA and MA from Louisiana State University. After many more years of advocating for social justice, Trudi was honored by the Bienville House Center for Peace and Justice with their Wade Mackie Peacemaking Award in 1996, and by the Baton Rouge Human Relations Council with their Powell-Reznikoff Humanitarian Award in 2005. Trudi loved her home in the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge and was instrumental in introducing study and practice to honor the tradition of the great goddess. She traveled widely with her beloved husband, and occasionally by herself, to Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Together they hosted students from other countries and sponsored an orphaned girl in Honduras. Trudi loved the arts, especially musical theater and opera. She never lost her enthusiasm for learning, and for sharing what she learned with others. For many years she taught a popular Spanish class as part of the Oschner Lifetime Learning Institute (OLLI) and enjoyed taking many classes herself. Trudi is survived by her children Steve (Cathy); Sue (Judy); Ben (Pam); David (Kat); her younger brother Alfred (Cici); her eight nephews and nieces, and many dear friends in Baton Rouge and around the world. The family is grateful to the wonderful care provided by Kith and Kin caregivers during the last two months of Trudi’s life. We also want to thank Suzanne and Dave Besse for graciously opening their home to Trudi to receive hospice care under Hospice of Baton Rouge. A memorial service is pending, in compliance with Covid precautions. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge at: https://www.unitarianchurchbr.com/donations Church Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.
Thank you to all for your kind words special thanks to staff at Saint James Place assisted living as well as nursing facility also special thanks to her caretakers who were so good to her the last few months
Our sincere condolences to you and your brothers for the passing of your mother and our dear friend, Trudi. She was a founding member of Bienville House Center for Peace and Justice and an astounding human being who dedicated her life fighting for the cause of peace and justice. She was always trying to defend the rights of the poor people throughout the world. Her activism was outstandingly unique as well as her dedication and drive.
We will always remember Trudi for her sharp fighting spirit. She leaves a vacuum that will be very difficult to fill. We and all the BHCJP membership will miss Trudi and will always be inspired by her dedication to the cause of peace.
Regards,
Ma’Moun and Julie Sukkar
Aunt Trudi was always so sweet to me and my family. She was a great person who will be missed. She even remembered my birthday with a card every year.
Unbelievably, this has been a friendship of almost 60 years, beginning when we met Trudy and family in 1961. Jackie was a new graduate from the University of Miami and went to work at the marine lab in Sam’s microbiology department. Trudy was so welcoming to us both. Later, when the Meyers moved to Baton Rouge, the friendship continued. Sometimes we kept in touch through the holiday letter, others we able to meet in New Orleans or Baton Rouge. More than once, a few years ago, we were able to visit at her home on Colonial Drive and then at her new residence at St. James Place. She was as fantastic and zesty as ever with her fervor for the Unitarian Church, politics from Louisiana to national and international and her desire to learn new technology to keep up with it all.
She was devoted to Sam, her children, and her causes—and we admired and loved her for it all. What a wonderful legacy she has left for all of us. She will be missed.
With our sincere condolences to the entire Meyers family,
Jackie and Bernie Simms
Unbelievably, this has been a friendship of more than 60 years, beginning when we met Trudy and family in 1961. Jackie was a new graduate from the University of Miami and went to work at the marine lab in Sam’s microbiology department. Trudy was so welcoming to us both. Later, when the Meyers moved to Baton Rouge, the friendship continued. Sometimes we kept in touch through the holiday letter, others we able to meet in New Orleans or Baton Rouge. More than once, a few years ago, we were able to visit at her home on Colonial Drive and then at her new residence at St. James Place. She was as fantastic and zesty as ever with her fervor for the Unitarian Church, politics from Louisiana to national and international and her desire to learn new technology to keep up with it all.
She was devoted to Sam, her children, and her causes—and we admired and loved her for it all. What a wonderful legacy she has left for all of us. She will be missed.
With our sincere condolences to the entire Meyers family,
Jackie and Bernie Simms
To the family of Mrs. Meyers: My daughter and I used to go to Mrs. Meyers’s home on Colonial Drive for private Spanish lessons. While she taught Katie in her kitchen, she asked me to sit quietly in her den. From my vantage point, I sat in awe of her absolute passion for language, her depth of knowledge on a wide variety of subjects, and her enthusiasm in trying to instill that same passion in Katie. She proudly showed me photographs of some of her travels and of all of you. We exchanged emails for a short period of time after the lessons came to an end. She was avid about so many causes — a true “fighter” for justice. I feel extremely fortunate to have had an opportunity to spent time with her. May God bless you in this time of mourning.
Anne,
Thanks for sharing your memories of our mother. She definitely had a passion for languages and really enjoyed teaching Spanish. After I retired, I took up Spanish study and I know that pleased her immensely. Even at age 91, she was still able to practice her Spanish with me.
Sue
I met Trudi 10 years ago at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. Without knowing her past I thought this woman is showing me how to matter as I aged. She refused to be pacified just because she was elderly and spoke up rigorously to get her opinions heard.
She is part of the church I admire and I will certainly miss her.
I was a high school and college student working for Trudi’s husband Sam, for years, but was lucky to become a friend of the family as time passed. I admired Trudi’s passion for justice and her quick mind and great sense of humor. She will be missed by many. My sympathies to all her family and friends and to the larger community she served.
To the family of Trudi
I first had the pleasure of meeting Trudi as a student in her OLLI Spanish class.
She was such an inspiration, bright, funny, and so turned on to life, ready to be involved in worthy causes.
Trudi was a true gem, and will be sadly missed.
Thank you Betty for your post about Trudi. She had a passion for languages and loved teaching her Spanish class for OLLI. I started studying Spanish 3 years ago and my mother always enjoyed practicing with me.
-Her daughter Sue