As a member of the city Civil Service Commission, Thomas “Tommy” Kam Sing pushed for women to have the same opportunities as men in Honolulu’s police and fire departments, according to his daughter, Pua‘ala Sing-Bishaw.

He always stressed fairness for women to have the same positions as men in those fields. “We’re proud of the stand he took,” she said.

Sing died March 15 at his home in Waimea on Hawaii island surrounded by family members after his battle with lung and brain cancer. He was 84.

Sing was born in Honolulu to Tom Kam Sing and Katherine Iseke Sing. He attended Maryknoll School and later transferred to McKinley High School, where he was an all-star player in basketball and football, said his daughter.

During his high school years, he worked at Dole Cannery printing pineapple can labels. Shortly after he graduated in 1950, Sing pursued printing as a trade and became a journeyman lithographer at the Honolulu Lithograph Co.

He had a tireless work ethic and a “can-do attitude.” “He never complained and he always pressed forward. He was always tenacious. Nothing would stop him,” said Sing-Bishaw.

Sing later became president of Local 501 of the Graphic Communication International Union. He was fearless in voicing his opinion, said his daughter.

Luther Yam, who served as union treasurer, said, “He was very dedicated; he was very understanding.”

Sing served as a member of the Honolulu Civil Service Commission where he pushed for gender equality at the police and fire departments during a time when there was only one female police officer and no female firefighters in Honolulu, Sing-Bishaw said. Today, there are 222 female officers at the Police Department and 18 female firefighters at the Fire Department, according to police and fire representatives.

Sing also served 16 years as a U.S. Navy reservist.

Approximately 22 years ago, he moved to Hawaii island.

He was active in the community and served on the board for various organizations including Hawaii Public Television, Hawaii Dental Service, Aloha United Way, Waimea Preservation Association and Hawaii Island YMCA.

Sing also served as a longtime member of the Department of Public Safety Correctional Industries Advisory Committee where he advocated for work release programs for Native Hawaiians and kamaaina.

Sing is also survived by his wife, Jan Sing, daughter Katherine Kahalewai, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held April 23 at Diamond Head Mortuary in Honolulu. Visitation starts at 9:30 a.m. Service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will be held at Diamond Head Memorial Park at 12:45 p.m. Aloha attire.