Susan Schechter, one of the most accomplished and respected leaders in the domestic violence prevention movement, died on Feb. 3, of endometrial cancer in Iowa City, where she resided.

Schechter wrote two books that are considered virtual bibles in this field. Women and Male Violence: The Visions and Struggles of the Battered Women's Movement was published in and helped shape the battered women's movement in this country. Schechter also co-authored, When Love Goes Wrong, with Ann Jones in . "She was the smartest and loveliest person on earth," Jones said.

In recent years, Schechter's specialty was exploring the ways that domestic violence affects children – one of the thorniest issues facing the nation today. She worked to educate others about the ways the public child welfare system is failing battered women and their children, and to build bridges between these two fields. She wrote numerous publications, for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCFFCJ) and others, that offered guidance to the domestic violence and child abuse communities. Schechter co-authored Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice, popularly known as the "greenbook."

"Susan Schechter's dedication to the 'greenbook' project was remarkable," said Meredith Hofford, Director of the Family Violence Department at NCJFCJ. "Her analytic abilities, intellectual integrity and charm were unsurpassed in the battered women's movement."

Schechter was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women by former Attorney General Janet Reno and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.

"Susan's advocacy on behalf of women and children, her work in the field of domestic violence, her writings, her voice, her compassion – all made the world a better place, a safer place," said Center for Community Partnerships in Child Welfare Director Susan Notkin. "A light has gone out and we will miss her wisdom and her laughter, and mostly we will miss her."

Schechter published widely and was in great demand as a speaker. She won the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators Award for Leadership in Public Child Welfare in , among many other honors.

From to , Schechter was program coordinator and then a consultant to Advocacy for Women and Kids in Emergencies (AWAKE) at Children's Hospital in Boston. She had an M.S.W. from the University of Illinois, and a B.A. from Washington University. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.

Schechter is survived by her husband, Allen Steinberg, and their son, Zachary.

The family has asked that donations in Susan Schechter's name be sent to the Iowa Women's Foundation; the Gynecological Cancer Foundation or the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

Source: Family Violence Prevention Fund