Arnold Cherry, Retired Vice President, Dies of the Coronavirus

Arnold Cherry (2nd from right in sunglasses) with former President Will James (center left, light blue shirt); retired rep Nick Lucas (far left), Trevor Lyons (white shirt and gold chain),and Horace Briggs, who is quoted in this story (center rear).
Arnold Cherry (2nd from right in sunglasses) with former President Will James (center left, light blue shirt); retired rep Nick Lucas (far left), Trevor Lyons (white shirt and gold chain),and Horace Briggs, who is quoted in this story (center rear).

Arnold Cherry, an activist member and officer of Local 100 for 30 years until his retirement in 2000, has died of the Coronavirus.  He was 78 years old.

Brother Cherry was especially active in organizing his co-workers in support of the 1980 City-wide transit strike.  He ran for President twice, in 1979 and 1982, finishing second to the late John E. Lawe both times. He served as a Shop Steward for many years before being elected Chair of the 207th Street Overhaul shop in 1985. He also served on the Local 100 Executive Board, and as the Local’s Grievance Coordinator and the Union Member on the Tripartite Grievance Board.

He was named Vice President of Car Equipment in the Willie James Administration in 1996, and was elected to a full three-year term in 1997.  He retired in 2000.

Horace Briggs, a long time friend and retired Chair of the Coney Island Overhaul shop, said that he had spoken to him on Good Friday.  “He didn’t sound sick, but he told me that he was a little under the weather.  I am shocked by his death.  We lost a good union brother.  He contributed a lot.”

Briggs said that Brother Cherry’s activism is what inspired him to get involved in the union.  “Arnold was definitely a mentor.  His passion for the union put the bug in me too.  Once it’s there, you can’t get rid of it.”

Another close friend and retired union representative, Trevor Lyons, called Brother Cherry “the ultimate grandpa and the ultimate union man. His grandchildren were his life in recent years.  He took them everywhere.  As a union representative, Arnold was completely dedicated.  He had very damaged knees from the job, and needed replacements to both knees.  You’re only supposed to have one done at a time.  He had them both done at the same time so he would miss less time on the job with the union.”

Trevor, who had served as the elected Chair of East New York before joining Brother Cherry on the Local 100 CED staff, added, “Arnold was a mentor and a teacher.  He made me and the other guys including Keith Semple, Tony Texteria and Compton Roberts better union representatives.  But he also made us get out there and go the extra mile for the members.”  

Said Lyons, “we were planning to go on a cruise, just the two of us this summer, to catch up and relax.  Arnold was really looking forward to it.  So was I.”

Since retirement, Brother Cherry kept busy with several rental properties he owned in the City.  Originally from Harlem, was very active in his community, and remained dedicated to his church, the Abyssinian Baptist Church.  While working fulltime, he earned a Masters Degree in Urban Policy from NYU, and was awarded a fellowship from Columbia University to further his work as a community and union activist.

Local 100 President Tony Utano said, “Arnold was an extremently dedicated union officer.  He fought hard for his members in Car Equipment.  He really made a difference in people’s lives.  My deepest condolences to his friends and family.”

Arnold remained in contact with the union as a member of the TWU Local 100 Retirees Association.  He would occasionally attend a TWU rally in the City to show his continued support for transit workers.
Brother Cherry is survived by three sons, including one who lives in Washington, DC. and 5 grandchildren.  His wife predeceased him.