Community celebrates life of local workers’ rights leader Bruce Popper

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Community members are remembering a local workers’ rights icon. Loved ones held a celebration of life for Bruce Popper who died in November at 71.

Popper was a long-time union leader and workers’ rights and anti-poverty activist in Rochester. He was vice president of what is now 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the University of Rochester’s service workers union.

“He was a great thinker about the issues of poverty and workers’ rights and he was an activist and he touched so many lives. That’s why so many people are here,” said Matt Fusco, a friend of Bruce Popper.

Popper also served on several boards and commissions in Rochester including the Rochester and Monroe County Racial and Structural Equity Commission and the Rochester Health Commission.