News Americas, Brooklyn, NY, Tues. Mar. 8, 2011: Respected Panamanian-born medical sociologist, educator and community activist, Dr. Marco Mason, has passed away after a battle with cancer, News Americas has learnt.
Mason died on Monday, March 7th at a Brooklyn hospital after a battle with the disease.
Mason migrated to the U.S. from Panama in the early 1960s and became a key part of the Caribbean immigrant community in New York City, advising politicians, business owners and governmental agencies of the importance of the demographics. He later went on to found the Caribbean Women’s Health Association in 1981, along with Yvonne Graham, the current Brooklyn Deputy Borough president, and also the Panamanian Council of New York.
Mason also served on the faculty of a number of colleges and universities, including at the State University of New York at Stony Brook; School of Social Work, School of Medicine, and School of Health Management and Technology and was a technical expert in U.S. Immigration Policy. He was cited by the US Department of Justice for his “Outstanding Services In Assisting Immigrants With Status Adjustments.”
Mason also served as an invaluable adviser to numerous organizations and businesses and was also the first vice chairman of Brooklyn’s Community Board 9.
Dr. Mason will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 12th following a 8:30 a.m. service at the St. Gregory The Great Roman Catholic Church, 224 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11213, (between Sterling Place and St. John’s Place). He will be laid to rest at the Evergreen Cemetery, 1629 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11207.
