I am still in a state of disbelief as I report this sad news. The Asian American community lost an incredible teacher and advocate in John Delloro, who passed away from a heart attack June 5. He was 38.
I am honored to have known John since his undergraduate years at UCLA, where he earned his B.A. degree in psychology with a specialization in Asian American Studies, and later his Master of Arts in Asian American Studies. Even back then, he emerged as a voice to be reckoned with. In fact, it was his voice—commanding and spirited—that caught my attention at campus rallies and later at town halls or demonstrations across Los Angeles. He was always fighting for what he thought was right, whether it be for preserving affirmative action, or against the exploitation of Asian garment workers or Latino janitors.
As a reporter assigned to cover Asian Pacific America in the mid-1990s, I was especially impressed when he would rouse crowds with his catchy chants and social justice-oriented poems. I could tell some multicultural audiences were taken aback with his seeming lack of inhibition. I’m sure he broke many people’s stereotypes of Asian Pacific Americans being quiet and demure. I recall, at one affirmative action event, the Rev. Jesse Jackson even felt compelled to publicly acknowledge John’s talent in this regard.
In the years I lost touch with John, I see that he stayed committed to living out his principles, serving as the national president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and executive director of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, as well as teaching at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Labor Studies Center. I would catch him and his wife, Susan Suh, a sociologist and activist in her own right, at a community dinner several years ago.
And then, last month, I ran into John at UCLA while covering a story about Simon Cho, the Olympic speed skater who has since become an advocate for the rights of the undocumented. John had urged his students to attend the talk given by Cho—I believe he was offering extra credit. Although we were both considerably older, John still had that infectious positive energy, and when I found out he was teaching at UCLA, I imagined him breaking into one of his James Brown-esque routines (with a social justice slant) during lectures.
I am not surprised to hear that his Asian American Studies classes at UCLA were among the most popular. “John was dedicated to his students, and all of us in the [Asian American Studies] Department remember seeing him spend countless hours in and around the office talking to them,” said Lane Hirabayashi, Chair of the Asian American Studies Department, in a released statement.
My exchange with John last month was all too brief, just enough time to share the ages of our respective children. He scrawled his email address in my notebook. We promised to catch up one day soon. I look at the letters now, jdelloro@gmail.com, and want to write a note to this Filipino American activist who filled up this world with so much good. I want to thank him and tell him how much it meant to me personally to see him up their on various stages showing everyone that Asian Pacific Americans could be so bold and so principled. We were the same age, and yet, I look at him and see someone who did not take his time here for granted.
My heart goes out to Susan, their children Mina and Malcolm and the rest of John’s family, including those at UCLA and in the labor community. He was a gift to all of us, and I am so grateful to have known him.
A public viewing will be held the evenings of Thursday, June 10, 2010 and Friday, June 11, 2010, from 5-9pm at the Mission Hills Catholic Mortuary, located at 11160 Stranwood Ave, Mission Hills, CA 91345. Funeral services will be private. Per the wishes of the family, there may be a public memorial at a later date.
If you would like to make a donation or contribution in terms of funeral services or other needs, please make checks payable to “John Delloro Memorial Fund” and drop-off or mail to: UCLA Asian American Studies Center, Attention: Meg Thornton, 3230 Campbell Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1546.
