A great loss – MJ Tocci

The world has lost a great woman, and we have lost a beloved board member and friend. It is with heavy hearts that we share that WGF Board Member, MJ Tocci, has passed away.  Many of you knew MJ personally, and have been touched by her work with WGF and the Heinz School’s Negotiation Academy. Her family will be planning a memorial service for April. Over the coming weeks, we at WGF will be thinking deeply about a way that our community can join together to honor her legacy, too.
Words cannot capture our admiration and gratitude for MJ. If you ever had the luck of crossing her path, or the distinguished pleasure of taking one of her negotiation classes, or the joy of calling her mentor or friend, then you know how special she was. We will miss our courageous, brilliant friend who was a tireless advocate for gender equity. From her days as the Head of the Major Crimes Unit, for the Alameda County District Attorneys Office, where she prosecuted perpetrators of sexual assault to her work here in Pittsburgh, founding the Negotiation Academy, MJ dedicated her life to the empowerment of women. She is survived by her husband Jonathan, and children Sam and Zoe. Please take a moment today to hold them in your hearts as we, together, mourn the loss of a great great woman from our lives. You can read more about MJ in the Post-Gazette.