Many are remembering the author and women’s rights activist, Gloria Steinem, who died at the age of 92.

While many know her for her work during the feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, her impact is also felt here locally.

While her last public visits to the area were in 2008 and 2012, many remember them just like it was yesterday.

Gloria Steinem spoke in front of a crowd at the Lehigh Valley Women’s Summit in 2012 at Cedar Crest College. It is a day the college’s now president, Dr. Elizabeth Meade, remembers well. Not only for what it meant to the students, but also to her personally.

“There is not a single other role model that has had as much influence on my development as a human being and as a woman than Gloria Steinem did,” said Meade.

Steinem blazed a trail and impacted the lives of women like Meade and women’s advocate Pamela Varkony.

“She represented everything that women thought they should be and thought they should be entitled to,” said Varkony.

In light of her passing, both women are now reflecting on Steinem’s hard-fought battles and her leadership.

“I think all the success that women had during World War II took several decades to percolate. By the time Gloria was coming into her own as a young woman, it was ripe; the movement was ripe for a leader,” said Varkony.

Today, they are looking at the past.

“I think it’s very important at this moment where we reflect on her legacy, where we don’t take that work for granted,” said Meade.

They are also thinking about the future.

“I think it’s important for us to realize how far we have yet to go. There’s never been a woman president. Women still are not at parity in the Congress of the United States. There’s never been a woman mayor of Allentown,” said Varkony.

Varkony says that, with room to improve, there is a desire to grow and to live like Steinem.

“There has always been a certain willingness in the Lehigh Valley for women to move forward,” said Varkony.

That is evident for Meade, who sees the future in students every day at Cedar Crest College.

“They get that what we want to do is empower them to be who they want to be, to make the choices that they want to make,” said Meade.

“There’s a lot yet to do, and I think if Gloria were still here, she’d be saying, onward,” said Varkony.

In addition to her visit to Cedar Crest College, Steinem also visited Lafayette College in Easton in 2008.