Eileen Leaman Phinney, founder of the Manchester Latin American Center and 2002 New Hampshire Woman of the Year, 2003 NH Latino Festival Grand Marshall .
Born in Uruguay She left Uruguay at age 20, when she married and went to England, serving in the WAF during World War II. She moved to Paris after the war.
She emigrated to the United States in 1954, living in New England before settling with her husband and four children in Berkeley, Calif., in 1959. Five years later, she suffered the loss of her husband, Frank G. Henderson II.
In 1969, she married attorney William L. Phinney and moved with her two younger children to Goffstown.
In New Hampshire, she found a growing Latino population in need of bilingual services, help in adapting to a new culture, and building community identity. Drawing on her own experiences as an immigrant and pride in her Latina identity, she co-founded the Latin American Center in 1971, and devoted untold hours as its volunteer director.
Her advice on multiculturalism was sought by many institutions and several governors. She was appointed to a New Hampshire commission on the status of women.
She retired from the Latin American Center two years ago, but has maintained the undying respect of the Latino community. Most importantly, she planted the seed for a new generation of leaders.
We will miss her greatly!
