{{Short description|American educator and politician}} {{distinguish|Sheryl Crow}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cheryl Chow | image = Cheryl Chow-1997.jpg | alt = | image_size = 175 | caption = Cheryl Chow, 1997 | office = Member of the Seattle City Council<br>from Position 8 | term_start = January 1, 1990 | term_end = January 1, 1998 | predecessor = Jeanette Williams | successor = Richard McIver | birth_name = Cheryl Mayre Chow | birth_date = {{birth date |1946|05|24}} | birth_place = Seattle, Washington | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|3|29|1946|05|24}} | death_place = Seattle, Washington | party = Democratic | relations = Ruby Chow (Mother)<br> Edward Shui "Ping" Chow (Father) | spouse = Sarah Morningstar (m. March 16, 2013) | children = Liliana Morningstar-Chow | occupation = | signature = | website = | alma_mater = Western Washington University (BA) | other_party = }}
'''Cheryl Chow''' (May 24, 1946 – March 29, 2013) was an American educator and politician. She was a Seattle City Council member from 1990 to 1997.
==Early life== Chow was born in Seattle, Washington, on May 24, 1946.<ref name="STObit">[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?pid=164067621 Cheryl Mayre Chow obituary], ''Seattle Times'' via legacy.com; accessed October 19, 2014.</ref> Chow's father was Edward Shui "Ping" Chow, a Cantonese opera singer who received U.S. Citizenship after he was discharged from the United States Army, and her mother was Ruby Chow, who served as a King County Councilwoman, the first Asian American elected to that council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cruz |first1=Jason |title=Remembering Ping Chow |url=https://nwasianweekly.com/2011/07/remembering-ping-chow/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=Northwest Asian Weekly |date=July 13, 2011}}</ref> Her parents also owned Ruby Chow's restaurant, where Bruce Lee once worked.<ref name="SReview">{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/jun/08/ruby-chow-seattles-chinese-american-matriarch-dies/ |last=Valdes |first=Manuel |date=June 8, 2008 |title=Ruby Chow, Seattle's Chinese-American matriarch, dies |newspaper= The Spokesman-Review |accessdate= November 23, 2016}}</ref> Chow's maternal grandparents were Chinese immigrants who had come to the United States to work on the railroad lines.<ref name="SReview"/>
Chow graduated from Franklin High School and then attended Western Washington University.<ref name="MOHAI">{{cite web |title=Cheryl Chow speaking at 34th District Democrats meeting, Seattle, July 12, 1989 |url=https://mohai.org/collections-and-research/collections-search/?primaryKey=2000.107.036.20.02&moduleName=item&recordId=1640 |publisher=Museum of History & Industry |access-date=26 January 2025}}</ref>
== Career == After college, Chow worked as a physical education teacher at Hamilton International Middle School, a public school in the Seattle School District.<ref name="MOHAI" />
Chow also coached girls' basketball for the city parks and recreation department and became an instructor for the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, which was started by her mother.<ref name="MOHAI" /><ref name="NWCN">{{cite web|author=Alison Morrow|url=http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/200671021.html|title=Obituary|publisher=Northwest Cable News|date=March 29, 2013|accessdate=December 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130411121822/http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/200671021.html|archivedate=April 11, 2013}}</ref> Chow coached the drill team for almost 50 years.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Moira |date=June 27, 2024 |title=Coming out was Cheryl Chow's last gift to Seattle {{!}} Seattle Pride at 50 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/culture/coming-out-was-cheryl-chows-last-gift-to-seattle-seattle-pride-at-50/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> She coached basketball for the Seattle Chinese Athletic Association for around 30 years.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kodama |first=Yuko |date=April 4, 2025 |title=Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Will Celebrate Cheryl Chow Park, a New Multigenerational Space for Rainier Valley |url=https://southseattleemerald.org/news/2025/04/04/ribbon-cutting-ceremony-will-celebrate-cheryl-chow-park-a-new-multigenerational-space-for-rainier-valley |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=South Seattle Emerald |language=en}}</ref>
In 1975, Chow became Principal at Sharples Junior High School (now Aki Kurose Middle School Academy).<ref name="MOHAI" /><ref name="NWAsianWeekly20130405">{{cite news |date=April 5, 2013 |title=Cheryl Chow, educator and former city council member, passes away at 66 |url=http://nwasianweekly.com/2013/04/cheryl-chow-educator-and-former-city-council-member-passes-away-at-66/ |accessdate=November 23, 2016 |work=Northwest Asian Weekly}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Egge |first=Rose |date=March 11, 2013 |title=Seattle School Board honors Cheryl Chow |url=https://komonews.com/archive/seattle-school-board-honors-cheryl-chow |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=KOMO |language=en}}</ref> Chow became assistant principal of Garfield High School in 1981, and in 1982 she served as principal of Madison Junior High.<ref name=":0" />
In 1985, Chow ran for the King County Council for the seat her mother was retiring from, ultimately losing the election.<ref name="ST1">{{cite news |last1=Hefter |first1=Emily |title=Cheryl Chow dies: City Council member, educator, advocate for children |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/cheryl-chow-dies-city-council-member-educator-advocate-for-children/ |access-date=26 January 2025 |work=The Seattle Times |date=March 29, 2013}}</ref> Before running for Seattle City Council, she worked at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.<ref name="ST1" /> Between 1983 and 1989 she served as the administrative supervisor for middle schools, Area Director, and Director II.<ref name=":0" />
==Seattle City Council== In 1989, Chow ran for Seattle City Council against longtime incumbent Jeanette Williams.<ref name="AW">{{cite web |title=Cheryl Chow Subject Files, 1988-1995 |url=https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv116607 |publisher=Archive West |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref> In the November general election Chow narrowly defeated Williams, 50% to 49%.<ref name="elections">{{cite web |title=General and Special Elections |url=https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/historical-election-results#19801989historicelectionresults |publisher=Seattle Municipal Archives |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref> She ran for reelection in 1993, winning in a landslide with 74% of the vote.<ref name="elections"/>
In her first term, Chow chaired the Parks and Public Grounds Committee, and in her second term, she chaired the Health, Housing, Human Services, Education and Libraries Committee.<ref name="AW"/> On the latter committee she helped create the Urban Rest Stop to provide services to unsheltered people in Downtown Seattle.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Shawn |date=May 6, 2015 |title=Cheryl Chow Court—50 new low income apartments become homes |url=https://iexaminer.org/cheryl-chow-court-50-new-low-income-apartments-become-homes/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=International Examiner |language=en-US}}</ref> During her time on council, she helped form the Families and Education Levy, which funded after school programs, and helped build five community centers in the city.<ref name="NWCN"/><ref name="weekly">{{cite news |last1=Howland Jr. |first1=George |title=Cheryl's chow |url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/news/cheryls-chow/ |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Seattle Weekly |date=October 9, 2006}}</ref> Chow stated her greatest achievements was getting the late night recreation centers and pulling together Asian gang leaders.<ref name="NWCN"/> In 1996, Chow worked as interim principal at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School while on the council, which received some criticism from community members.<ref name="weekly"/>
She decided not to run for reelection to her council seat in 1997 and instead ran for Seattle mayor.<ref name="AW"/> In the September primary election, Chow failed to advance past the primary.<ref name="Spokesman">{{cite web |title=Seattle Mayor's Race Down To Three Port Commissioner Tops Vote, Absentee Ballots To Determine His Opponent |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/sep/18/seattle-mayors-race-down-to-three-port/ |work=The Spokesman-Review |access-date=August 20, 2024 |date=September 18, 1997}}</ref>
In 1999, Chow ran for Seattle City Council in Position 1 after council member Sue Donaldson decided not to run for office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steffen |first1=Alex |title=CHARIOTS OF FIRE |url=https://www.thestranger.com/news/1999/08/05/1664/chariots-of-fire |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=The Stranger |date=August 5, 1999}}</ref> In the August primary, Chow came in second and advanced to the general election with political newcomer, Judy Nicastro coming in first.<ref name="1999 Primary Night">{{cite web |last1=Couric |first1=Katie |title=Primary Night Fever |url=https://www.thestranger.com/news/1999/09/16/2016/primary-night-fever |work=The Stranger |date=September 16, 1999}}</ref> Chow outraised Nicastro by over $12,000 due to her support from landlords and business leaders.<ref name="The Stranger">{{cite web |title=Seattle's Pragmatic Populist |url=https://www.thestranger.com/news/2001/01/25/6284/seattles-pragmatic-populist |work=The Stranger |access-date=August 20, 2024 |date=January 25, 2001}}</ref> Chow and her supporters labeled Nicastro as a "radical leftist," and Nicastro and her supporters labeled Chow "mediocre."<ref name="ST 1999">{{cite web |last1=Corr |first1=O. Casey |title=Nicastro Doesn't Deserve This Political Mugging |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19991027&slug=2991356 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=August 20, 2024 |date=October 27, 1999}}</ref>
Chow would narrowly lose the November General Election to Nicastro, 49.51% to 50.49%.<ref name="99 General Election">{{cite web |title=November 2, 1999 General Election |url=https://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/99nov/resPage10.htm |publisher=King County Elections |access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref>
==Post-council== After leaving the city council, Chow became an interim Principal at her ''alma mater,'' Franklin High School, and then at Garfield High School.<ref name="NWAsianWeekly20130405"/><ref name="AW"/> In 2005, Chow was elected to the Seattle School Board.<ref name="NWAsianWeekly20130405"/> Chow served on the School Board until 2009 and served as Board President during her tenure.<ref name="ST1"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rolph |first1=Amy |title=School Board elects Chow president |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/school-board-elects-chow-president-1221759.php |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=Seattle Post Intelligencer |date=December 6, 2006}}</ref> She also worked for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington as their Director of Outreach.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2013 |title=Cheryl Chow: 1946-2013 - Courageous Educator, Community Leader and Child Advocate Passes On |url=https://iexaminer.org/cheryl-chow-1946-2013-courageous-educator-community-leader-and-child-advocate-passes-on/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=International Examiner |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Honors == Chow was inducted into Franklin High School's hall of fame in 1992. She had graduated from the school and served there as principal.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Morningstar |first=Sarah |date=Spring 2024 |editor-last=Duryee |editor-first=Mary |title=Cheryl Chow, '64 is remembered in a street sign… |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e3115262cd94eace716e67/t/662ec6d0d8e0b248a24e0119/1714341586064/Spring+24+Final.single.pdf |access-date=2025-12-15 |magazine=Quaker Times |pages=6–7 |volume=30}}</ref> In 2012, the City of Seattle declared September 17 "Cheryl Chow Day", and in 2013, the Seattle Organization of Chinese Americans gave her the Golden Circle Award.<ref name=":5" />
In 2015, the Low Income Housing Institute opened the Cheryl Chow Court Apartments in Ballard, offering 50 reduced-rent apartments to senior citizens, many of whom had previously been unsheltered.<ref name=":4" />
In 2024, the Seattle City Council named Cheryl Chow Boulevard after Chow, placing a street sign next to Franklin High School, at South Mount Baker Boulevard and 31st Avenue South.<ref name=":2" />
In 2025, the city opened Cheryl Chow Park at South Charlestown Street and 35th Avenue South in Rainier Valley.<ref name=":3" />
==Personal life== Chow came out as a lesbian in August 2012.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Former Seattle city councilwoman Cheryl Chow's last crusade |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/former-seattle-city-councilwoman-cheryl-chows-last-crusade/281-330727813 |access-date=27 January 2025 |work=King5 |date=August 22, 2012}}</ref> On March 16, 2013, less than two weeks before her death, Chow married her partner of ten years, Sarah Morningstar.<ref name="NWAsianWeekly20130405"/> Together, they have a daughter, Liliana Morningstar-Chow.<ref name="NWAsianWeekly20130405"/> Chow and Morningstar began running marathons as a hobby because the training allowed them to be together in public.<ref name=":1" />
Cheryl Chow died on March 29, 2013 of central nervous system lymphoma at age 66, in Seattle.<ref name="STObit"/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x60076 Seattle Voices 2007 interview with Cheryl Chow] {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chow, Cheryl}} Category:1946 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Seattle City Council members Category:School board members in Washington (state) Category:Women in Washington (state) politics Category:American LGBTQ city council members Category:LGBTQ people from Washington (state) Category:American LGBTQ people of Asian descent Category:American lesbian politicians Category:American politicians of Chinese descent Category:Asian-American people in Washington (state) politics Category:Deaths from lymphoma in Washington (state) Category:Schoolteachers from Washington (state) Category:American women educators Category:Western Washington University alumni Category:American women of Chinese descent in politics Category:Women city councillors in Washington (state) Category:American city council members of Chinese descent Category:Franklin High School (Seattle) alumni Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:20th-century American women politicians Category:21st-century American women politicians