John Bligh
- Retired teacher
When Marna Davidson, the former coordinator of the Retired Teachers Chapter’s Florida office, was honored as Retiree of the Year during the 2008 American Federation of Teachers convention, she recalled her first day as a teacher more than 40 years earlier.
Marna told the crowd that when she arrived at her school, she discovered a strike had just begun, recounted her cousin, Ted Spiegel. When the school’s principal warned, “If you don’t cross that picket line, you don’t have a job,” Marna replied, “I don’t cross that picket line: I’m a union member,” Spiegel said.
The convention attendees roared their approval, said Spiegel, a photojournalist who was shooting the awards ceremony.
Marna died on Sept. 14, 2022, of natural causes, in Pleasanton, California. She was 89.
Her closest colleagues said Marna’s retort as a young teacher rang true to what they knew of her from early in her career as a teacher and chapter leader and later as a key figure in the UFT’s Retired Teachers Chapter in Florida.
“A very, very feisty lady, very pro-union,” said Myra Entenberg, who, like Marna, was a chapter leader in District 2 in Manhattan at the time of the teachers’ strikes in 1967 and 1968. They bonded to the degree that they regularly roomed together during union conventions.
“Being on strike really brought people together,” Entenberg said. She called Marna “extremely bright, extremely kind to people, very dedicated to the union.”
AFT President Randi Weingarten, who as UFT president had nominated Marna for the retiree award in 2008, said after her passing, “She was a dynamo.”
Marna earned an undergraduate degree in English from Syracuse University and master’s degrees in math and in education from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She taught 5th grade and math and science labs for 25 years at PS 33 in Chelsea.
Marna was politically active and, according to her daughter, Ronni Herb, served as a delegate for either the UFT or NYSUT at four Democratic National Conventions, the last one in 2012. “A staunch Democrat,” Herb said of her mom. “Trump was like the Antichrist to her.”
Entenberg credited Marna with maximizing UFT turnout for former President Barack Obama in Florida in 2008, when he narrowly defeated Republican John McCain in the state during his first presidential race.
Marna developed an interest in pension issues while she was teaching. After she retired and moved to Florida about 1990, an issue arose regarding a mistake in pension calculations made in the 1970s for members of the city Teachers’ Retirement System. Working from the union’s retiree office in Boca Raton, Marna collaborated with Mel Aaronson, then the UFT treasurer and chairman of the TRS board, to resolve the issue.
The growing number of UFT members retiring to the Sunshine State created a need for counseling there not only on pension matters but on health benefit issues. Marna was tapped to reorganize Florida’s RTC office and expand its size and scope as the coordinator, a position she held for more than a decade until 2010, said Ken Goodfriend, who succeeded her.
“She had a stature to her,” he said. “She told you what you had to do, and she helped you do it. She was well-respected. When we had a retirement party for her, they were coming out of the woodwork to congratulate her.”
RTC Chapter Leader Tom Murphy, who previously served as the UFT’s political director, worked closely with Marna when she created and developed the Florida retiree political powerhouse that put the UFT on the map in that state. “She made the UFT into a presence to be reckoned with in pursuit of union goals,” Murphy said.
Elaine Boderman, another former chapter leader in District 2, said it didn’t surprise her that Marna remained devoted to serving UFT members in her retirement. “She loved the union and everything it stood for,” Boderman said.
Marna enjoyed cooking and for a time was a co-owner, with another teacher, of a restaurant named Harold’s on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She also was a fan of the arts, especially film, theater and ballet.
In addition to her daughter, Marna is survived by a son, Michael; a stepson; and five grandchildren.
My condolences to the family
I occasionally spoke to Marna Davidson when she call to speak to Sandra March on pension issues. Very nice and sweet
Friends since 1967 when we met at a Unity Caucus meeting, Marna and I had years of great times together. After our service on the UFT Executive Board ended we took many road trips together. On one trip we started in Key West and sampled key lime pie in every restaurant we stopped at along the way. In the end, they all tasted the same. Another trip took us through the Hudson Valley to Massachusetts and Vermont, where we attended every summer stock performance we could find and managed to take in a winery as well. In 1995 I was recuperating at my Aunt and Uncle’s in Delray Beach from an ankle fracture. Marna took me out regularly in a wheel chair and introduced me to senior discounted movie tickets. I was on sabbatical at the time, and she pointed out to me that it was the last year of a contract that allowed retirement directly from a sabbatical (Thanks, Sandy Feldman). I took it. May your memory be a blessing, dear friend. We’ll meet again.
I am shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend for many years. Marna and I worked at the Bronx UFT Office in Co-op City and as retirees in Florida. We rode many busses together from New York City to Albany, New York and Orlando, Florida to Tallahassee, Florida to address Union concerns. She was a dedicated and loyal Union member, and she will be sorely missed. Rest in peace my dear and wonderful sister.
My condolences to her family. She will be unforgettable for a wonderful career in education. Rest In Peace!❤️
My condolences to Marna’s family n friends. Thank you Marna for all your hard work and dedication to our union. God bless and RIP.
Marna was always there to help you understand our health benefits. She was often the person who answered phone calls about them. She also had a dynamic way of explaining the health benefits. I really enjoyed the times she came to the West Coast UFT-RTC meetings in Sarasota. She made sure to answer member questions at the meeting or ask for the member to address an envelope if she had to do some research. She will be missed by many of the members of the Tampa and West Coast chapters.
Condolences to Marna’s family, and friends. Thanks for your dedication, and representation of retired educators, Florida Chapter. May Marna, Forever Rest In Peace.
My sincere condolences to Marna’s family. I first met Marna while I was teaching in NY and came to her for pension advice. I, too, moved to Florida and when I saw that she was in charge of the Florida office I felt immediately at home and knew I was in good hands for whatever issues I had with my early retirement. She had an amazing amount of energy and captivated the room during UFT meetings.
Those of us who taught at PS 33M were very lucky to have Marina as our union rep. Not only was she a hard worker and compassionate, but she knew her stuff and didn’t hesitate to help each and every one of us. She will always be remembered fondly.
My condolences to her family, and friends.
Marna Davidson was an extremely bright woman. She was an excellent listener. I had the pleasure of working with and for her. she could be very persuasive. She did indeed help the UFT leave its mark on politics in Florida. She frequently credited the UFT leader ship and Tom Murphy with her success. I will miss her. She gave her all.She made me a better person and unionist.
I worked in the Florida office From 2003,-2019
Marna was a hard working office supervisor she was a devoted union member who offered strong leadership to those who lacked the union background that she had very sad news about her passing Sheldon walitt
I moved to Florida from New York City three years ago. Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to meet Marna. My condolences to the Davidson family. Marna, rest In Peace in the paradise as a value angel you were in earth.
Marna was a dynamo! Marna made sure I was working in the Florida office, right before she retired. Marna was a terrific leader. When she visited the Florida office we were all so happy. Rest In Peace my friend! You will be missed! Trudy Lieberman
I only moved to South Florida last August and I never got the chance to meet or interact with Marna. But from what I have read and her tribute, she sounds like the kind of person I would have love to meet. Condolences to her family and friends. May her soul rest in peace. God’s Blessings
My condolences to the Davidson family. I did not know Marna, but her legacy has encouraged me to participate in most political actions that our union is fighting for. It’s because of people like her that I get to enjoy some of the privileges they did not have when they were teaching. Take care. I retired from NY , now live in Fl.
Marna was an amazing woman. Held everything in control. Great personality and made you feel as if you were the only person she saw when speaking with her. Loved her sparkly hats. May she Rest In Peace.
I am so very very sorry to hear of Marna’s passing. We taught together at P.S. 33 where she was also the chapter chairperson. She was instrumental in helping me with my retirement choices and I can thank her for my investments. She was a wonderful and caring person.
Ada Korson
My deepest condolences to Marna’s families ️. Marna may you rest in peace in Paradise. You are gone but will never be forgotten.