A Marine Corps veteran and member of the United Steelworkers union, he spent most of his life fighting for workers.
Sadly, Don Buddy, former Field Coordinator for the American Federation of Manufacturing (AAM), passed away on Sunday, August 25th. He was 88 years old.
A lifelong advocate for manufacturing workers and the United Steelworkers (USW), Badie began working for AAM as a field coordinator in 2007. After retiring, he moved to Cape Coral, Florida, where he continued his advocacy work for AAM as a field coordinator.
“Don was a tremendous advocate, colleague and force for change,” AAM President Scott Paul said. “My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. He will be missed by all of us at AAM.”
Buddy was born in Chicago on March 30, 1936, to French immigrant father Pierre Di Loubet Buddy and Chicago native Eleanor Helen Slater. In 1953, at age 17, Buddy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War.
Shortly after leaving the Marines, Buddy went to work for the ACME Steel Works in Chicago where he was an electric furnace operator. Buddy began his career working for ACME as a USW laborer, which became his lifelong passion.
Blue Wilson, AAM field coordinator for Michigan, also served as a Marine and later as an electric furnace operator at McCloud Steel in Detroit, and he recalled many great conversations he had with Buddy about steel, the Marines and manufacturing policy.
“Don was a good friend. We always had great conversations and it was always about the well-being of people,” Wilson said. “He was a very loving person. He was a Marine and that remains with him.”
“He loved the union and he loved his SOAR (Organization of Active and Retired Steelworkers) group.”
Buddy served in many positions in the USW, including staff representative, and after retirement, he founded the Florida SOAR chapter.
Buddy worked tirelessly to support his local union members so that all steelworkers could enjoy a higher quality of life and a higher standard of living. He worked hard to elect legislators who would support and pass meaningful legislation for union families.
As a SOAR leader for Florida, Buddy chauffeured Michelle Obama during then-candidate Barack Obama’s campaign visits in 2008.
“Don loved his cigars and his spirited debates about labor policy,” Wilson added. “Workers and working families have lost a man who made a difference.”
Buddy’s ashes will be interred at Sarasota National Cemetery, a military memorial park in Sarasota, Florida.
