Virginia Knauer, American consumer advocate and government official, died he was 96..

Virginia Harrington Knauer was an American Republican politician. She served as the Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs and Director of the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs (1969–1977 and 1981–1989). In 1960 she became the first woman to be elected to the Philadelphia City Council, in which she served for eight years. She was appointed to the newly created post of chief consumer advisor to Pennsylvania Governor Ray Shafer. She was also the mentor and good friend of former North Carolina Senior Senator Elizabeth Dole. Knauer died on October 16, 2011 in Washington, D.C., at age 96.^[4]

(née Wright; March 28, 1915 – October 16, 2011)

Early life and education

Knauer was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where her father was a professor of accounting at Temple University. She was educated at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania (graduated 1937); she also attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy.^[5]

Family

Her husband, Wilhelm F. Knauer, a lawyer, served as Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General. They had one son, Judge Wilhelm F. Knauer, Jr. (deceased), one daughter, Valerie Knauer Burden, and three granddaughters, Virginia Burden, Frances Burden, and Nancy J. Knauer.^[6]


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