Alameda flag at half mast today
If you drive by city hall today, the flags will be at half mast for May Mew in honor of her service to the city. She passed away on August 12th at the age of 94.
I never had the privilege to meet Ms. May, but did have a chance to correspond with her son who was researching some information for her obituary. This gave me the opportunity to learn a little about a very interesting woman, a trailblazer and a community activist (meant in a very positive, respectful way: PTA, boards and commissions, etc.) I am posting her obituary below, if it moves you, stop and take a moment of silence, reflection, prayer, thought for Ms. May Mew and her family.
MEW—-May Jan, 94, of Alameda, August 12, after a short encounter with lung cancer. She was the beloved wife of Thomas who predeceased her in 1989. The mother of Wendell, lawyer and jazz musician, of Santa Monica; Arnold (Helena), banker and businessman, of San Leandro; Calvin (Mary Crawford), international advertising executive, of New York City; Leland (Margaret), emergency room physician, of Lafayette. The grandmother of Kenley (Peggy) Mew and Evan Mew.
May and Tom Mew moved to Alameda in 1947. They were the first Chinese-Americans to live on Bay Farm Island. A Caucasian friend actually bought the house for them because the owner would not sell to them. May was the first Chinese-American to serve as President of the Lincoln School PTA. She was appointed to a number of City of Alameda committees on land use and development (South Shore and BFI) and youth activities by Mayors William McCall, Franz Collischonn, and William Godfrey.
She was an employment counselor for the State of California Employment Development Department for over 30 years. In her retirement she sold some cars for the Morris Landy Motors dealership in Alameda.
May served as Treasurer of the Alameda Chapter of AARP and was a Board Member and volunteer librarian of the Mastick Senior Center. She was a loyal member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Alameda Oak Leaf Chapter #8 and the International Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, Alchor Shrine #27.
She is survived also by Sarah Jan, sister, of Alameda, Dr. Dewey Jan, brother, of Fresno, and Paula Saint-Amour, former daughter-in-law, of West Hurley, New York.
Donations in May Mew’s memory may be made to the Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, California 94501.
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