Recruiting new members and improving pension benefits are among the top priorities of Stuart Leibowitz, the new president of the Retirees Association of DC 37. The association’s executive board elected Mr. Leibowitz to the post Sept. 25, after Alma C. Osborne resigned for health reasons.

“We want to carry on Alma’s legacy of integrity and concern for the membership,” said Mr. Leibowitz, who was 1st vice president before the board elected him to his new position on Sept. 25.

Mr. Leibowitz, a former vice president of SSEU Local 371, called Mrs. Osborne his mentor. As long-time DC 37 activists, they marched together in demonstrations and rallies and served together in the union’s Delegates Council.

Mr. Leibowitz holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Brooklyn College. He joined the city work force as a Social Investigator (currently Caseworker) in 1961. He worked his way up through the civil service system to Supervisor 3. From 1968 to 1993, he served Local 371 as vice president of research and negotiations. He then worked as deputy chair of the Office of Collective Bargaining for two years.

One of the highlights of Mr. Leibowitz’s union career was his participation in a 1965 strike that led to the creation of the collective bargaining system in New York City.

After the strike, Mr. Leibowitz testified before the fact-finding commission that called for the creation of the labor-management Office of Collective Bargaining.

When Mr. Leibowitz was elected president, the Retirees Association Executive Board also elected Audrey Iszard as 1st vice president, Elizabeth A. Amos as recording secretary, Rochelle Mangual as associate secretary and Vasdev H. Advani as vice president for Social Security, pensions and Medicare.

Besides expanding the membership and lobbying for improved pensions, Mr. Leibowitz identified his priorities as fighting for full reimbursement of Medicare Part B premiums, battling the Bush administration’s plan to privatize Social Security, lobbying for a prescription drug Medicare benefit and promoting universal health care.