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Menes, a Democrat who represented District 21 throughout her 40-year tenure in the House of Delegates, was the first president of the Women Legislators of Maryland and the 11th woman to join the state General Assembly. For her accomplishments, she was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame in 2008.

Menes was born Pauline Herkowitz on July 16, 1924, in New York. After graduating from Hunter College in New York in 1945, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work as an economist.

After an unsuccessful run for Prince George's County register of wills in 1962, she was elected to the state House of Delegates, representing District 21, in 1966.

During her 40 years in the House, Menes coordinated legislation to improve the state's library system and fought for the rights of women in the General Assembly and in society.

"Even before I was elected, Pauline Menes was the role model for many women, especially in the issue of trying to move women ahead," said Del. C. Sue Hecht (D-Dist. 3A) of Frederick. "She worked our domestic violence legislation for years, we would coordinate with her."

Menes was one of the people who moved Hecht to run. Hecht called her "the dean of women in Maryland."

As one of the founding members of the Women Legislators of Maryland, Menes was an inspiration to women lawmakers who came to Annapolis, said Del. Ann Marie Doory, a former vice chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee on which Menes served during most of her legislative career.

"In her own quiet and reserved way, she was very much a mentor," said Doory (D-Dist. 43) of Baltimore, now vice chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee

Menes was known for intently listening to citizens' testimony throughout the long Judiciary Committee hearings.

"She really cared about people and their concerns and trying to solve problems," Doory said.

But Menes also knew when to be assertive, as Doory recalled one Friday night voting session that extended past midnight when Menes took on longtime committee chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. (D-Dist. 27A) of Upper Marlboro.

"She put her hand down on the table hard and said, ‘Mr. Chairman, I think we've done enough work for today,'" Doory said. "[Joe] looked around and he said, ‘OK.'"

Sen. James Rosapepe (D-Dist. 21) of College Park said he admired Menes for the collaborative approach she took to politics.

"Some politicians have huge egos and sharp elbows," he said. "They're hard to get along with. Pauline was the reverse."

After deciding not to seek re-election in 2006, Menes moved to the Riderwood retirement village in Silver Spring. Members of her former district said they met with her last week after she did not attend the regular meeting of the community's Democratic club.

One of her main concerns was whether the delegates and senators in her former district were cooperating.

"She kept asking, ‘How are y'all getting along?'" Rosapepe said.

As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Mene's legislative record often focused on matters of law, which she built based on experiences of people in her community. When a longtime friend's son was hurt in a motorcycle accident, Menes spearheaded the state's law requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets.

Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Dist. 21) of College Park, who was elected into Mene's former seat, said she constantly sees her predecessor's legacy.

"I told her last week, she certainly left me some big shoes to fill," Pena-Melnyk said. "As a woman, it's wonderful to follow in the steps of someone like her. It's truly an honor."

Her role as one of the first and longest-serving women in state politics was an important one, on the statewide and national stage.

"I mean, she founded the women's caucus," Rosapepe said. "It's something that we take for granted nowadays, but it did not exist when she started."

Menes, a College Park resident, was married to the late Melvin Menes. She is survived by her sister, Shirley Schwarz; daughters Sandra Ashe, Robin Elvord and Bambi Menes; and three grandchildren.

Services will be held Tuesday at Beth Torah Congregation, located at 6700 Adelphi Road in Hyattsville.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Pauline Menes Fund at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center, P.O. Box 719, Brooklandville, MD 21022-0719.

E-mail David Hill at dhill@gazette.net.

Staff Writers Douglas Tallman, Alan Brody and Daniel Valentine contributed to this article.