盐湖城市无家可归者权益先驱 Pamela Atkinson 逝世，享年93岁
盐湖城，犹他州——据 Gephardt Daily 10月11日报道，长期为犹他州无家可归者与弱势群体奔走的倡导者 Pamela Atkinson 于10月10日（周六）逝世，享年93岁。她投身公益服务长达60年，被时任州长称为“犹他州的特蕾莎修女”，她的离世在犹他州政界与公益界引发悼念潮。
犹他州州长 Spencer Cox 在社交媒体上悼念说，Atkinson 以一生的慈悲与服务提升了犹他州，她把一生奉献给了服务他人——尤其是那些常被遗忘的人——并向人们展示了关怀邻里的真正含义。
前州长 Gary Herbert 也悼念了这位老朋友，称 Atkinson 曾任他的特别助理，是贫困与无家可归者的不懈倡导者，也是连接不同信仰群体、州议会与全州社区的桥梁建造者。Herbert 说，Atkinson 不只谈论慈悲，而是每天身体力行，她的善良、信仰与无私服务触动了无数人的生命，让犹他州变得更好。
据报道，Atkinson 生前曾表示，对“特蕾莎修女”的称呼有些不好意思，她更愿意把自己看作一个能把事情办成的人。
Salt Lake City Homeless Advocate Pamela Atkinson Dies at 93
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Pamela Atkinson, a longtime champion for Utah's homeless and disadvantaged communities, died Saturday at the age of 93, Gephardt Daily reported on Oct. 11. Her passing, after a career of public service spanning 60 years, prompted an outpouring of tributes from Utah's political leaders.
Atkinson was once referred to by a sitting governor as "Utah's Mother Teresa." Gov. Spencer Cox paid tribute on social media, saying Atkinson lifted Utah through a lifetime of compassion and service, devoting her life to serving others — especially those too often forgotten — and showing what it means to care for one's neighbors.
Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert also remembered an old friend, saying Atkinson served as his special assistant and was a tireless champion for people experiencing poverty and homelessness, as well as a bridge-builder among people of all faiths, the Legislature and communities across the state. Herbert said Atkinson did not just talk about compassion but lived it every day, and that her kindness, faith and selfless service touched countless lives and made Utah a better place.
According to the report, Atkinson once said she was a little embarrassed by the Mother Teresa comparison and preferred to think of herself as someone who was able to get things done.
图片来源：维基共享资源，公共领域（Sean Breazeal 摄，盐湖城市县大楼）
