<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lesbian activist Del Martin, at the forefront of the battle for same-sex marriage in California, died Wednesday in San Francisco. She was 87. Martin&#39;s partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, was by her side at the UCSF hospice, the National Center for Lesbian Rights said. <br /><br />Phyllis Lyon, and Del Martin,  founded the nation&#39;s first lesbian organization.<br /><br />Martin and Lyon(who herself is 84), tied the knot June 16 in a ceremony officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.<br /><br />&quot;Ever since I met Del 55 years ago, I could never imagine a day would come when she wouldn&#39;t be by my side. I am so lucky to have known her, loved her and been her partner in all things,&quot; Lyon said. &quot;I also never imagined there would be a day that we would actually be able to get married. <br /><br />&quot;I am devastated, but I take some solace in knowing we were able to enjoy the ultimate rite of love and commitment before she passed.&quot;<br /><br />Long before Massachusetts and then California legalized same-sex marriage, Lyon and Martin were integral parts of the early movement for lesbian and gay rights. They met in 1950 in Seattle, Washington, where they worked as editors of construction trade publications. They fell in love, moving in together on Valentine&#39;s Day 1953.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->