ALBANY — Members of Albany’s large yet tight-knit union movement this week are remembering one of their true leaders, Josephine Sano, who passed away at the age of 97.

“She was smart and tenacious,” said Paul Cole, secretary treasurer emeritus of the state AFL-CIO. “For a little person, she was really a giant in the teacher union movement and the broader labor movement.” He was referring to Sano’s petite stature — less than 5 feet tall — and her outsized contribution to organized labor in Albany and in the state.

Sano taught social studies in the Albany City School District for 44 years.

“People ask about her all the time,” said one of her sons, Joe Sano, who was himself a union official and is now director of the state Organization of Management/Confidential Employees.

Born in New York City, she was a young girl when mother, Louise, died, and the family moved to Gloversville. There, her dad, John Autilio, was a unionized barber — back when barbers' unions were similar to guilds with benefit and retirement funds. She was raised in part by an aunt who was an organizer with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.

After becoming a teacher in Albany, Sano quickly became involved in the teachers' union and was instrumental in helping merge what was decades ago two separate statewide organizations into what is now New York State United Teachers. Eventually, the union grew from about 200,000 to 600,000 active and retired members today, said Cole.

Sano helped steer the teachers’ union into a closer relationship with other labor unions in the state. She also became a mover and shaker in union activities and in politics, helping the then-fledgling Albany firefighters' union get started despite fierce opposition from Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd. And she helped secure labor endorsements for Democratic state Sen. Neil Breslin.

“Josephine's influence did not end in Albany,” recalled Bill Ritchie, who served for years as the Albany teachers' union president.

“Josephine always believed in the labor movement whether it was the teachers, the public safety unions or the trade unions,” added Sam Fresina, who headed the Albany firefighters’ union and now serves as president of the state Professional Firefighters Association.

Sano was the first female president of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor. In that regard, she was a pioneer for local women who worked in the union movement, said Kathleen Scales, who was at the Public Employees Federation and later served as a regional labor federation leader.

“She gained the respect of every man whether it was from the teachers’ union to the building trades to the other public and private sector unions,” said Scales.

Alan Lubin, who served as NYSUT’s executive vice president, recalled that Sano was a multitasker before that term existed. In addition to heading the city teachers’ union she volunteered on the NYSUT political action committee, was involved in Democratic politics — and was known for handing out homemade biscotti to friends and associates.

Said Lubin, “There was no stopping Josephine Sano.”