Jackie Tonawanda
Jackie Tonawanda, the popular and well-known female boxer, dubbed “the Female Ali” from the 1960s and 1970s, died June 9, 2009, at Harlem’s Mount Sinai Hospital from colon cancer.
Born Jackie Garrett in New York on Sept. 4, 1933, Ms. Tonawanda was formerly of Groton and New London. She previously worked at both Pfizer Inc. and Electric Boat in Groton. A well-known figure in the boxing and martial arts community and considered a pioneer of women’s boxing, Ms. Tonawanda sued the state of New York to be granted a boxing license in 1975, a legal battle she eventually won, becoming the first woman to be granted a license to box in New York state.
Her funeral arrangements are as follows: Viewing will be from 3 to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 19, at Owens Funeral Home, 216 Lenox Ave., 121st St., in New York. Her funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at First Bethel AME Church, 60 West 32nd St., Lenox Avenue and 5th Street, New York, N.Y., 10027, phone number (212) 862-0100. 
rest in peace aunt jean i will always love you and i will miss you dearly
Jackie, we love you, legend…