Joseph J. Thomas, a trailblazing retail executive, has died at the age of 85 at NYU Langone Hospital.
A viewing and funeral mass took place on Tuesday, April 23 starting at 9:00 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of St. James (250 Cathedral Place, Brooklyn). In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the J.J. Thomas Memorial Scholarship Fund, High School of Fashion, 225 W. 24th St. NYC 10011.
Mr. Thomas worked for Bloomingdale’s for 43 years. He was a buyer, before rising to become the store’s operating vice president for diversity and community service.
Mr. Thomas was Bloomingdale’s first Black buyer and the company’s first Black corporate, operating vice president.
He supported the careers of numerous Black professionals at Bloomingdale’s, in the industry at large and as a board member and president of the Black Retail Action Group (BRAG), the oldest active retail and fashion organization devoted to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) equity and inclusion
This year, the High School of Fashion Industries in New York, renamed its annual career fair the JJ Thomas Career Day in recognition of his impact and devotion to the school. The Black Retail Action Group named an award after him: The JJ Thomas Innovators Award for new businesses.
Born April 26, 1938 in Opelousas, Louisiana, Mr. Thomas served in the Army before joining Bloomingdale’s in 1965 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.
Five years later, he joined BRAG and was appointed to the board of directors in 1974. He became president and served until 1995. During his tenure, the organization raised thousands of dollars from retailers, and awarded college scholarships to hundreds of Black students from around the country.
In 2005, he wed Halcyone Bullen.
Mr. Thomas remained with Bloomingdale’s until his retirement in 2008 and retired from the BRAG board two years later, moving to the advisory board.
He was never without his camera. With it, he captured a lot of the history and memories of diversity groundbreakers in the industry. Many of his photographs date back to the ‘70s—a time when African Americans were just starting to be included in the industry at management and executive levels.
Mr. Thomas lived in Brooklyn Heights, New York. He is survived by his wife, stepson Jamal Lanham, sister Elizabeth Lazard, and a host of nieces and nephews.