Ann Shaw, an African-American civic leader and activist, died in Los Angeles on May 5 following a long illness, her family said today. Shaw was 93.
A pioneer for women and minorities, Shaw’s 50 years of civic involvement included being the first woman appointed to the California Commission on Judicial Performance, being the first African-American president of L.A.’s YWCA and being the first female president of the Board of Founders Savings and Loan.
She was also the first African-American to serve on the boards of Redlands Trustees, Lloyds Bank of California Trustees, The Boys and Girls Club of Southern California, UCLA Medical School Board of Visitors and Loyola Law School Board of Visitors.
Along the way, Shaw received the United Way’s Gold Key Award, the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund’s Black Women of Achievement Award and Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Sentinel and the California State Legislature.
A devout Episcopalian, Shaw was saluted by the African Methodist Episcopal Church with the Outstanding Civic Worker and Citizen Award. The San Fernando Valley Jewish Community Center also planted trees in her honor in the John F. Kennedy Peace Forest in Israel.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Shaw was a graduate of Jefferson High School in Los Angeles. She earned her undergrad degree from the University of Redlands, and masters degrees at Ohio State University and the University of Southern California. She also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Redlands.
Shaw was the widow of the late Leslie N. Shaw, the first black postmaster in Los Angeles. Her son, Leslie preceded her in death. She is survived by her children Dan, Rebecca, and Valerie; her grandchildren P.D. IV, Kofi, Aliya, Semaje, Kyrra and Asha and her great grand-child, Daniel.
Services will be held Thursday, May 14 at 10 a.m. at the Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to the Leslie N. Shaw Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o California Community Foundation, 221 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
