Philanthropist Anne Marden, 96, passed away in her Shek O home on Tuesday after having been in frail health with Parkinson's disease, her family has said.
Marden, wife of the late John Marden - former head of trading conglomerate Wheelock Marden - was a pioneer of modern social services in Hong Kong's nongovernment sector. Charitable organizations she helped launch decades ago are today an integral part of Hong Kong's social service landscape, the Marden family said.
Marden championed the rights of the underprivileged and children in particular, strove to improve life and opportunities for Hong Kong's physically handicapped and used her personal standing to encourage the acceptance of marginalized people - from refugees to sex workers.
"Anne was definitely one of the heroes in Hong Kong's social services field," said Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, a former Executive Council convener and patron of the Playright Children's Play Association.
"She had a different approach to advocacy. Anne listened humbly with an open mind to people's views. She was never loud, complaining or critical. She was soft and mild but persistent. She talked to people and influenced them - which I think is sometimes even more powerful."
Born in Shanghai in 1926, Marden arrived in Hong Kong with her husband in 1947 and was director of the Hong Kong Red Cross from 1960 to 1965. In 1962, she presided over the inauguration of Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School - the city's first residential school for physically handicapped children. She was a patron of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth; founder, director and permanent patron of the Rehabaid Society for people with physical disabilities and special needs; vice patron of the Hong Kong branch of International Social Service assisting migrants, divided families, asylum seekers and refugees; cofounder of Treats; and honorary president of Playright.
The couple established the philanthropic Marden Foundation in 1973 to build three prevocational secondary schools.
Marden also helped those beyond the reach of most charities, including sex workers, HIV carriers and teenagers with drug and alcohol abuse issues. She supported a charity providing services to the dying and care for the bereaved and was a lifetime member of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor expressed deep sorrow over Marden's passing.
"I had known Mrs Marden for over 20 years since my days as the director of social welfare and admired her passion and dedication to improving the welfare of people, especially those with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds," Lam said.
"It is no exaggeration to say that her contributions reflected the development of social welfare in Hong Kong for the past several decades."
