Helen M. Marshall
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Helen Marshall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 18th Borough President of Queens | |
| In office January 1, 2002 – January 1, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Claire Shulman |
| Succeeded by | Melinda Katz |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 21st district | |
| In office January 1, 1992 – December 31, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Walter McCaffrey |
| Succeeded by | Hiram Monserrate |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 35th district | |
| In office January 5, 1983 – December 31, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | John G. LoPresto |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrion L. Aubry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 30, 1929 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 4, 2017 (aged 87) Palm Desert, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Donald Marshall |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Queens College |
Helen Marie Marshall (née Sargent ; September 30, 1929 – March 4, 2017) was an American politician from New York City. She was Borough President of Queens from 2002 - 2013. She was also the first African-American Borough President of Queens.[1]
Marshall was born on September 30, 1929,[2] in the Bronx,[3] having been raised in between both Harlem and the Bronx. Both of her parents were immigrants of African descent from British Guiana (now Guyana).[4]
She graduated with a B.A. in education from CUNY Queens College. She was a teacher for eight years. In 1969, she left teaching to become the first Director of the Langston Hughes Library in Queens. She was married to Donald Edward Marshall until his death; they had two children, Donald Jr. and Agnes Marie.[5] She entered politics as a Democrat.[6] She was a member of the New York State Assembly for eight years and a member of the New York City Council for ten.[6]
She was elected as Borough President of Queens in November 2001, to succeed the term-limited Claire Shulman. As Borough President, Marshall made marketing Queens as a tourist destination one of her priorities. In 2005, she won a second term, defeating her Republican/Conservative challenger Philip T. Sica with 75% of the vote to his 25%. She was inaugurated to her second term as President of the Borough of Queens on January 3, 2006, in a ceremony held at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Marshall outlined her plans for the next four years including health care, education, housing and new park projects. In November 2009, Marshall was re-elected to a third term.[7]
In 2017, P.S. 330 was renamed the Helen M. Marshall School to honor her legacy.[8]
