Westchester County police have confirmed the death of one of the most prominent feminists from a highway accident.
Mary Thom, a former editor of Ms. Magazine, had just picked up her 1996 Honda Magna 750 motorcycle from storage when she was killed on Saw Mill River Parkway in Yonkers, just north of New York City Friday evening.
Aged 68, Thom, who worked at Ms. for twenty years, was an avid motorcyclist.
Ms. Magazine was founded over forty years ago and was seen as a watershed moment for the feminist movement. In the photo on the right, Mary Thom (center) can be seen discussing an issue with Editor-at-Large Letty Pogrebin and staff member Marilu Lopez
Thom was a native of Akron, Ohio but lived most of her life in Manhattan on the Upper West Side.
After leaving Ms. in 1992 she went on to co-author an oral history of feminist activist Bella Abzug and serve as a features editor for the Women's Media Center.
Co-founder of Ms. Magazine Gloria Steinem spoke fondly of Thom's gifts for story-telling and writing.
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'She had a gift for helping people tell their own story, not for helping them sound like others, but helping them find their own voice,' Steinem said.
Julie Burton, the president of the Women's Media Center, where Thom was still listed as an editor-in-chief, released a brief statement.
'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.'
Mary Thom (far right) worked at Ms. Magazine for over twenty years. She has also served as features editor for the Women's Media Center
Robin Morgan, a renowned poet and co-founder of the Women's Media Center, tweeted last night 'I grieve for a wry, ethical friend.'
According to friends and family members, in addition to riding her motorcycles Thom was also a huge fan of the Cleveland Indians and 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.'
A full incident report of the highway accident will not be available until later Sunday, according to the Westchester county police.
The crash that killed Thom occurred Friday evening on Saw Mill Parkway in Westchester, New York. The accident shut down the freeway on the southbound side during rush hour as police were sent to investigate
News 12 in Westchester confirmed the accident occurred Friday evening just prior to rush hour on the southbound side of Saw Mill River Parkway just before Lockwood Avenue.
Reports indicate that Thom clipped a passing vehicle which threw her off the bike. She was pronounced dead at the scene.