John Bligh
- Retired paraprofessional
Marian Thom, a dynamic force for Asian American causes and a founding member of the UFT Paraprofessionals Chapter, died on Sept. 4 after a nine-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 88.
“They don’t make them like Marian anymore,” said Seung Lee, who followed Marian as chair of the UFT Asian American Heritage Committee, which she founded.
A native New Yorker, born in Chinatown, Marian followed the example of her Chinese immigrant single, widowed mother who, Marian said in an interview for the Museum of the City of New York, “passed on that you should always be helping people.” That philosophy led to her involvement with the UFT and other union endeavors, as well as community causes for everything from voter registration to women’s rights to the Cub and Boy Scouts.
“Marian was a dynamo,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said. “Go to a union event — she’s there. Go to a political event — she’s there. She was everywhere, fighting the good fight and encouraging others to do the same.”
Marian became a bilingual paraprofessional in New York City public schools in 1970 and did that job for 36 years. Shortly after getting the job, she helped to organize the Paraprofessionals Chapter of the UFT.
“She was a marvelous woman,” retired Paraprofessionals Chapter Chair Shelvy Young-Abrams said. “We became very close. Because she knew the Chinese language, she was especially helpful in getting the paras who spoke the language to mobilize and join the UFT.”
Young-Abrams also recalled how Marian helped to organize the New York chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, where she was a longtime officer of the national chapter.
“Look, you’re Asian. You want to be counted, so you’ve got to join and stand up and be counted,” Marian was quoted as remarking when she would approach potential APALA members, which helped make New York the group’s largest chapter.
Marian also lent a hand in urging and signing up farmworkers to join what would become the United Farm Workers union under Cesar Chavez in the early 1970s, Abrams recalled.
After retiring from the classroom, Marian worked at the UFT as a part-time staffer in the Manhattan borough office where she served paraprofessionals. She was a member of the UFT executive board and received countless honors for her union work.
Just this past July, despite her illness, she traveled to Houston to receive the Diamond Level Living the Legacy Award at the AFT Convention for her 50 years of service and her contributions to Chinatown and Asian American Pacific Islander communities.
“She was so tied to the union, and to the people at the union, that getting the AFT award enlivened her,” her son, Dewey Thom, said. “You could see by her efforts to get to Houston to receive it how important it was for her. It was important to her to be able to see people she knew. Her one regret was that she was unable to mingle with everyone at the convention hall because of the illness.”
Marian was perhaps best known for her years chairing the UFT Asian American Heritage Committee, where she created and directed the incredibly successful Lunar New Year banquet celebration that sold out every year, with no fewer than 300 attendees.
“She was a warm, caring person — but she was all business,” current committee Chair Lee said. “She always made sure things were done thoroughly and correctly. I like to think I’m on point and detail-oriented, but Marian blew me out of the water.”
Lee said Marian always spoke about why it was important for Asian American Pacific Islanders to be part of the UFT. Her message, said Lee, was “people need to speak up and be visible, making sure to participate in the process and doing everything we can to make people’s lives better — which she did daily.”
Victoria Lee, the UFT treasurer and the union’s first Asian American officer, said Marian always served as an example for her.
“Marian was incredibly determined and fought hard to make sure that Asian American contributions were recognized and valued in our education system,” Victoria Lee said. “She understood that representation matters and made sure that everyone had a seat at the table on the UFT Asian American Heritage Committee. I will remember Marian for her fierce spirit and her commitment to making sure that every voice is heard and valued.”
A breast cancer survivor, Marian also was active in raising money for the American Cancer Society, and she served on the board of directors for her apartment complex.
Besides her son Dewey, Marian is survived by another son, Tim, and her daughters, Debra Chong and Jean Pike, as well as four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas K. Thom.
A wake was scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20, from 3 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Wah Wing Sah, 26 Mulberry St., Manhattan.
The family created a memorial fund in Marian’s honor that was set up through the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance.
Our dearest friend and the role of model of our union, education and society Marion. We really miss you.! You have brought the joyful with passion of what’s life is about in our world. Thank you very much for everything you have done for us. God bless you.
Jasmine/Chi-Ming/Austin Tang