Marvin MORGANBESSER

MORGANBESSER, Marvin

Marvin Morganbesser, formerly of West Hartford, died peacefully at his home at the Goodwin House in Falls Church, Virginia on Thursday (October 11, 2012) at the age of 79. Marvin was a founder of the Connecticut Construction Industry Association (CCIA) and served as President and General Counsel of CCIA until his retirement in 2008. Under his leadership, CCIA grew and became a model for similar efforts to promote the construction industry and labor relations around the nation. Marvin was born in New York City and grew up in Jackson Heights. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University, including his JD and LLM degrees from NYU Law School. Prior to CCIA, Marvin served in the U.S. Army, worked at the National Labor Relations Board, and served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York. He married Norma Haber of the Bronx, New York in 1962. In 1967, Marvin moved from New York City to Connecticut to serve as General Counsel of the Connecticut Roadbuilders Association. Marvin's commitment to move the construction industry forward began early in his career. He recognized that every facet of the industry, including the building contractors, concrete providers, heavy and highway organizations, heavy machinery operators, site and underground utility contractors, and material and supply vendors, as well as the associated law firms, insurance companies, accountants, engineers, and other construction trade associations, needed to be part of a collaborative effort, not only to improve working conditions, but to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Connecticut. Thus, in pursuance of this vision, CCIA was formed in 1971, representing eight sectors of the Connecticut construction industry. Marvin was also one of the founding fathers of the Construction Institute of the University of Hartford. The Institute was founded as the result of a series of discussions held by prominent industry leaders in the mid-1970s who saw the need for an organization that could represent all segments of the construction industry. Marvin savored the value of an educational institute as part of the construction industry and supported the efforts of the Institute throughout his career. Among the awards Marvin received over the years included: the Construction Institute's Distinguished Achievement Award in 1997, the CCIA Distinguished Achievement Award from the Construction Institute in 2004, and the prestigious Lifetime Recognition Award from the Construction Institute in 2009. In 2008, Marvin was awarded the Connecticut Yankee Council Boy Scout of America Award. Marvin will always be remembered for being a tough negotiator and a visionary leader, as well as for his intelligence and lively sense of humor. Following his retirement, Marvin suffered from Alzheimer's, but continued to enjoy life, spend time with his family and make a lasting impression on everyone he met. Marvin is survived by his wife of 49 years, Norma Morganbesser, of Falls Church, VA. Marvin is also survived by his son Neil Morganbesser; his grandchildren Lauren and Jason Morganbesser; Neil's partner Ellen Liao and stepdaughter Nathalie Rebolledo, of Santa Monica, CA; Marvin's daughter Jill Patrone; son-in-law Eugene Patrone; and grandchildren Matthew and Chloe Patrone of Falls Church, VA; and Marvin's sister, Elaine Mellion, of Suffern, NY.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 15, 2012 at 10:30 AM in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with interment following in the Hartford Mutual Society Cemetery, East Granby. A memorial period will be observed following the funeral, and in the evening from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Gillette Ridge Condos Clubhouse, Bay Hill Rd., Bloomfield. Donations in memory of Marvin may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601, or to the Goodwin House Hospice, 3440 S. Jefferson St., Falls Church, VA 22041. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Marvin, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.