Cheryl Chow (May 24, 1946 – March 29, 2013) was an American educator and politician.
Cheryl Chow | |
|---|---|
 Cheryl Chow, 1992 | |
| Born | Cheryl Mayre Chow May 24, 1946 |
| Died | March 29, 2013 (aged 66) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Other names | Cheryl Mayre Chow |
| Education | Western Washington University (BA) |
| Occupation | Educator Politician |
| Spouse | Sarah Morningstar (m. March 16, 2013) |
| Children | 1 Liliana Morningstar-Chow |
| Parents |
|
Early life
editChow was born in Seattle, Washington, on May 24, 1946. Chow's father was Edward Shui "Ping" Chow (November 5, 1916 – June 29, 2011), who received U.S. Citizenship after he was discharged from United States Army. Chow's mother was Ruby Chow, who served as a King County Councilwoman, the first Asian American elected to that council.
Chow's maternal grandparents were Chinese immigrants who had come to the United States to work on the railroad lines.[1]
Chow's parents were also restaurant owners of the famous Ruby Chow's restaurant, where Bruce Lee once worked.[2]
Chow graduated from Franklin High School and then attended Western Washington University.
Education career
editChow was a teacher at Hamilton International Middle School, a public school in the Seattle School District. Chow was a principal of Sharples Junior High School (now Aki Kurose Middle School Academy).[3]
Besides being a teacher and principal, Chow also coached girls' basketball for the city parks and recreation department.
After 1997, Chow was a principal of her alma mater Franklin High School and of Garfield High School.[3]
Political career
editFrom 1990–97, she served on the Seattle City Council.[4] She decided not to run for reelection to her council seat in 1997, and instead run for Seattle mayor where she would fail to make it past the primary.[5][6]
In 1999, Chow ran for Seattle City Council in Position 1 after council member Sue Donaldson decided not to run for office. Her main opponent was a political newcomer, Judy Nicastro who Chow outraised by over $12,000.[7] Chow would narrowly lose the November General Election to Nicastro, 49.51% to 50.49%.[8]
In 2005, Chow was elected to the Seattle School Board when the district saw increasing school closures and instability.[3] She served until 2009 and became School Board President during her tenure.[4]
Personal
edit
Chow came out as a lesbian in August 2012. On March 16, 2013, less than two weeks before her death, Chow married her partner, Sarah Morningstar. Together, they have a daughter, Liliana Morningstar-Chow.[3]
Death
editCheryl Chow died of central nervous system lymphoma, aged 66, in Seattle, Washington and was survived by her wife, Sarah Morningstar, and several brothers and half-brothers.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ Valdes, Manuel (June 8, 2008). "Ruby Chow, Seattle's Chinese-American matriarch, dies". The Spokesman Review. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ "Legacy.com Edward Shui "Ping" Chow". Legacy.com. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Cheryl Chow, educator and former city council member, passes away at 66". Northwest Asian Weekly. April 5, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ^ a b Alison Morrow (March 29, 2013). "Obituary". Northwest Cable News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
- ^ "1946-2015". Seattle Municipal Archives. City of Seattle. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Seattle Mayor's Race Down To Three Port Commissioner Tops Vote, Absentee Ballots To Determine His Opponent". The Spokesman-Review. September 18, 1997. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Seattle's Pragmatic Populist". The Stranger. January 25, 2001. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "November 2, 1999 General Election". King County Elections. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Cheryl Mayre Chow obituary, Seattle Times via legacy.com; accessed October 19, 2014.
- ^ Obituary Archived October 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, washelli.com; accessed October 19, 2014.
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