Comrade Ira Wechsler died on December 9, 2024, at the age of 75. Ira was part of a host of young people who were attracted to the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) in the late 1960s. He attended the State University of New York at Stony Brook and was part of the worker-student alliance Students for a Democratic Society ( SDS) there. He hated capitalism, racism, sexism and imperialist war. Ira not only talked, he walked the walk.

He was a fighter and was arrested for making “good trouble.” He joined the PLP to fight for the world he wanted to see: an egalitarian communist world built and run by the international working class so all humanity will benefit and flourish.

After graduating, Ira became a welfare worker in New York City. He fought for worker-client unity. He was active in his union, becoming a shop steward for Local 1549, DC37 and later CWA 1180. Later  Ira became a hospital worker. He brought that same passion to his work at Woodhull Hospital. He believed in participating in these organizations. He was an 1199 steward as well. Throughout, Ira never shied away from a fight.

Ira loved to sing. He loved to update songs with lyrics about current struggles. Taking a bus back and forth to work, he would sing his updated songs. In doing so, he hoped to strike up conversations with his fellow riders.

After Ira retired due to a stroke, he continued to be active in community issues like fights to stop the closings of Brooklyn Hospitals (Downstate, Long Island College and Kingsbrook Jewish Hospitals) and against racist police terror.

Ira is survived by his wife, Yvonne, daughter Daneeka, son Adam and granddaughter Saniyah. He leaves his brother Bruce and numerous friends and Comrades.