BY HARRY RING
LOS ANGELES - May Stark, a member of the Socialist Workers Party for 56 years, died here of a heart attack February 29, a week before her 80th birthday.
Earlier that day she came to the Pathfinder bookstore to help get out a special mailing announcing an emergency meeting for a Militant Labor Forum March 3 with a panel of speakers titled "Hands off Cuba!"
Born in New York City, Stark joined the Socialist Workers Party there in 1939. Her parents operated a restaurant and she was able to attend Hunter College, graduating in 1938 with degrees in physics and chemistry. But she could not get a job in these fields and became a welfare worker. A year later she joined the SWP. In 1941, May Stark and her companion Sam moved to Los Angeles. That's where she enlisted in a trade school and learned to operate a drill press. For several years she worked as a drill press operator in a tool-making plant and then got a job at Douglas Aircraft. She later became a member of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union and worked in the garment industry for more than 20 years.
After retirement, Stark played a valuable role in keeping the local Pathfinder bookstore open. Until health difficulties increased, she volunteered in the store a minimum of one afternoon a week.
A public meeting is being organized to celebrate her life and political contributions. The event, sponsored by the Los Angeles SWP branch, will take place on Friday, March 15, with a reception at 7 p.m. and progam at 8 p.m. It will be at the Pathfinder bookstore (see directory on page 12). Messages to the meeting can be sent to the Los Angeles SWP, fax number (213) 380-1268.