Celebrating International Women’s Day
Celebrated since 1909, March 8th is International Women’s Day, an opportunity to recognize the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and a call for the acceleration of women’s equality.
Last year in March, Cincinnatus recognized members of the Association and their contributions to the community.
On this International Women’s Day, we recognize and honor Judith B. Van Ginkel, the first woman president of Cincinnatus and Gwen L. Robinson, the first African American president of Cincinnatus.
J.T. Spence, Cincinnatus member, provides us with a historical glimpse of the first women in the Cincinnatus Association and the value of inclusion, diversity, and equity.
Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri
Cincinnatus President
From J.T. Spence — The Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and early 1960s heralded a social revolution in the United States to which The Cincinnatus Association was not immune.
What had historically been an elite civic institution representative of white male business interests, the group felt the pressures of social change and an increasing expectation by a growing number of members to respond to this dynamic challenge by diversifying its membership.
In 1966, Cincinnatus inducted its first African American members (Robert Stargel and Harry T. Martin). This expansion of membership was followed ten years later with the breaking of the proverbial “glass ceiling” when Judith Van Ginkel was sponsored for membership and by 1984, she was joined by Joan Hammond, Patricia Garry, M. M. Rocheford, Gwen Robinson, Mary Bonansigna, and Kathy Merchant.
Judith Van Ginkel was named Treasurer of Cincinnatus and, in 1991, the Association’s first woman president. Judith’s election to the presidency emphasized the dynamic change Cincinnatus was undergoing in its membership when she had to be admitted as a guest at her swearing in ceremony at the prestigious male-only University Club. Since 1995 when Valerie Newell was named president, women have continuously filled major roles in the Association.
Gwen Robinson, who passed on March 2, 2025 was the first African American president of the Cincinnatus Association. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called her a “fighter of injustice” and “champion for equity.”
Women today represent a growing percentage of Cincinnatus’ membership and have provided an exceptional cadre of leadership that has helped reinvigorate the organization’s civic activities. The diversity of Cincinnatus has not just made it more representative of the community in which we work; it has also provided institutional stability and energized a larger network of collaboration that has strengthened the voice of Cincinnatus on the issues of the day in our region. Our voice reverberates with more power throughout the region as a result of our opening our ranks and diversifying our representation.
J.T. Spence
Cincinnatus Member
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