Merilynne Quon (center) with her son and her husband at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center's 50th Anniversary Founder's Reunion in July 2019 (Photo credit: Abraham Ferrer).
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center (AASC) is deeply saddened by the passing of co-founder Merilynne Quon on January 1, 2021. Merilynne was instrumental in the fight to establish Asian American Studies at UCLA. She was hired to co-coordinate AASC's Student and Community Projects during the Fall 1969-Summer 1970 and Fall 1970-Summer 1971.
As a freshman and sophomore at UCLA (Fall 1967-Summer 1969), she was a member of Theta Kappa Phi sorority and was appointed by Chancellor Charles Young to work as a student evaluator of university-funded community projects for the Board of Urban Research and Development. Inspired by the Black Power conference at UCLA (Winter 1968), Quon helped organize Sansei Concern (Spring 1968), the ARE YOU YELLOW conference at Big Bear, CA (Summer 1968), and Oriental Concern (Fall 1968).
She had a passion for working with youth, helping to found Asian Sisters to connect teenage girls with Asian American women and mental health professionals, starting the first Asian American Studies class at Roosevelt High School, and developing young leaders so that they connect more deeply to their communities, among many other accomplishments. She also worked on the fight for redress and reparations with NCRR, as the co-chair of the outreach committee. In 2018, we were fortunate to document Merilynne's recollections at UCLA and lived experience as part of the Collective Memories oral history project.
"In these days when too many leave too soon, there is at least some solace in knowing our actions made/make a difference. I'm glad Collective Memories makes it possible for Merilynne's story to inspire us and future generations," said Suzi Wong, who also helped to found Asian American studies at UCLA. Suzi shared the following haiku in tribute to Merilynne.
Round pebble worn smooth
Moving Amerasia love
---Ongoing ripples
May Merilynne rest in power and peace.
Our condolences go out to her family and friends. A Celebration of Life event was held on Saturday, February 27, 2021. The family suggests in lieu of flowers or koden, to please donate to the Little Tokyo Service Center, in memory of Merilynne Quon.