Mary Thom dies at 68

Former executive editor of Ms. Magazine and current editor-in-chief at the Women’s Media Center, Mary Thom died suddenly in a motorcycle accident on Saturday April 27th. Julie Burton, president of the Women’s Media Center writes, “Mary was one of the great writers, editors, and visionaries of the women’s movement, and the heart and soul of Women’s Media Center’s feature writing. From her work in the early days of Ms. Magazine right up until this week, hers was a clear, strong voice for equality—and her editorial talents lifted so many other voices as well.”

The NYTimes writes that Thom joined Ms. in 1972 and went on to become executive editor in 1990. While Thom was known within our community, her work was done mainly behind the scenes. This may often be the most overlooked work in feminism, but is some of the most important — work done behind the scenes by the people that are not getting the glory of the spotlight, but trudge ahead committed to a world that is free of gender oppression.

This is a tremendous loss to the feminist community and the greater women’s movement. What we can know is that she died doing something that she loves. According to her friends the NYTimes writes, “Ms. Thom never married, and her friends said her true love was her motorcycle, a 1996 Honda Magna 750. On it, she zipped around town — to dinners in the West Village, feminist talks, and back home to her apartment on the Upper West Side.”

Talk about an original bad-ass. Our thoughts are with her family, community and her colleagues at the Women’s Media Center.