Esther Saperstein

Esther Saperstein
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 49th Ward
In office
February 25, 1975 – April 16, 1979
Preceded byPaul T. Wigoda
Succeeded byDavid Orr
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 11th district
In office
January 11, 1967 – February 25, 1975
Preceded byMichael Brady
Succeeded byRedistricting
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 8th district
In office
January 9, 1957 – January 6, 1965
Preceded byRedistricting
Succeeded byDistrict re-established
Personal details
BornOctober 22, 1901
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 17, 1988(1988-05-17) (aged 86)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationNorthwestern University

Esther Richman Saperstein (October 22, 1901 – May 17, 1988) was an American legislator, women's rights advocate and mental health activist. She was the first Democratic woman elected to the Illinois Senate.

Saperstein was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Jewish immigrants, Ellis Richman from Russia and Mary Dresser from Poland. Saperstein went to Chicago public schools and Northwestern University. Saperstein was active in the local Parent-Teacher Association. In 1955, Saperstein ran for the Chicago City Council and lost the election. Saperstein was a Democrat. In 1957, Saperstein served in the Illinois House of Representatives and served until 1967. Saperstein then served in the Illinois State Senate from 1967 until 1975 when she resigned from the Illinois General Assembly. In 1975, Saperstein was elected to the Chicago City Council and served until 1979. Saperstein died at her home in Chicago, Illinois.

A Chicago park was named in her honor in 2004.

Notes

  1. ↑ Tribune, Chicago (May 18, 1988). "ESTHER SAPERSTEIN, 86, PIONEER WOMAN SENATOR". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2026.
  2. ↑ Women building Chicago 1790-1990 : a biographical dictionary. Schultz, Rima Lunin, 1943-, Hast, Adele., Paul Avrich Collection (Library of Congress). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 2001. p. 778. ISBN 0253338522. OCLC 44573291.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ↑ 'Illinois Blue Book 1973-1974,' Biographical Sketch of Esther Saperstein, pg. 76
  4. ↑ 'Esther Saperstein, 86, pioneer woman senator,' Chicago Tribune, May 18, 1988, section 2, pg. 10
  5. ↑ "Plan would rename parks after women". Chicago Tribune. March 11, 2004. pp. 2–5. Retrieved November 8, 2025.

Further reading