Tom Kerry, who was described by his obituary in The Militant as a proletarian fighter, was born Thomas Louis Kerry in Boston on August 24, 1901 and raised in Chicago where he was exposed to socialism. After a brief membership in the Young People's Socialist League Kerry dropped out of political activities during the 1920's, a period of personal prosperity for him. About 1930, however, Kerry began to gravitate toward radical politics. At the same time he met Carolyn McLeland, a young working woman who had been born in Louisville, Kentucky, on December 11, 1910. As The Militant later observed, “they became lifelong companions and comrades.” In 1934 they traveled together to California. There they joined the Communist League of America. As members of CLA and its later manifestations, the Workers Party and the Socialist Workers Party, both Kerrys were involved in numerous labor struggles in California. Karolyn (as she then spelled her name) was active in unions representing waitresses and canners. Tom Kerry became a leader in the Workers Alliance and in the maritime unions. During the late 1930's he shipped out as a member of the Seafarer's International Union.
When much of the Socialist Workers Party leadership was jailed in 1944 the Kerrys relocated to New York City to work in the national office. During this period he handled many editorial responsibilities for The Militant. After the war Kerry returned to sea as a member of the National Maritime Union. In 1953 the Kerrys were sent to Los Angeles to reorganize the local branch. In 1955 the couple again returned to New York City. Tom became national organization secretary and helped to edit The Militant and the International Socialist Review, while Karolyn assumed a variety of responsibilities for the party. The Kerrys retired from party activity in 1977. Karolyn Kerry died on February 5, 1980. Tom Kerry died in Los Angeles on January 8, 1983.
