Former Rep. Louise Day Hicks (D-Mass.) died Oct. 21 in her native South Boston. She was 87.

Her sister-in-law, Rita Day, told The Associated Press that Hicks had been ill for some time, but the cause of her death was not immediately known.

Hicks, a lawyer and the daughter of a prominent South Boston judge, spent a decade fighting against forced integration in Boston before it was ordered in 1974.

While she opposed court-ordered busing as a member for the School Committee and later on the City Council, Hicks maintained that she was not racist. She ran for mayor twice, in 1967 and 1971, the first time coming within 12,000 votes of being elected.

In 1969, Hicks was elected to the City Council, retaining the seat even when she was elected as a Democrat to the 92nd Congress the following year.

She was a member of the National Organization for Women, and while in Congress she lobbied for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Although she lost her bid for a second term in Congress, she retained her City Council seat until 1977. She was reappointed to the council to fill a vacancy in 1979. Hicks is survived by her son, William Hicks.

Seven-Term New York Rep. Hanley Dies

Former Rep. James Hanley, a Democrat from New York who served the state for seven consecutive terms, died Oct. 16 in Geddes, N.Y. He was 83.

First elected in 1964, Hanley served as chairman of the House Post Office and Civil Service committees. During his first term, the Democrat also authored an amendment attached to the bill that created Medicare.

Before his tenure on the Hill, Hanley worked as a funeral director. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1920, Hanley graduated from St. Lucy’s Academy in 1938 and served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946. Following his 15-year career in Congress, Hanley stayed in Washington as a consultant.

Hanley is survived by his wife, Rita, and their two children, son Peter and daughter Christine.

Aide to New York Rep. Jim Walsh Dies at 42

Martha Carmen, 42, legislative aide to Rep. Jim Walsh (R-N.Y.), died at Georgetown University Hospital on Oct. 20 after an illness.

Carmen, who graduated in 1984 from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s in political science, served with Walsh for 15 years.

She was responsible for health care, education and tax policy issues. She previously worked for then-Rep. George Wortley (R-N.Y.).

The Syracuse native was the driving force behind the Newborn Infant and Screening Intervention Program, which passed in 1999, said Walsh spokesman Daniel Gage.

The program provides federal funding for states to screen newborn babies for hearing.“Martha was our health care guru,” Gage said. “Part of the reason why she was so good at what she did was because of her own health care issues.”

A funeral service was held Oct. 24 in Syracuse. Contributions may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Massachusetts.

— Inga Beyer, Jessica L. Brady and Carolyn Shuckerow