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Kenneth Marcus Obituary
March 3, 1952 - December 31, 2010
Kenneth Jay Marcus passed away on Dec. 31, 2010 after a 4-year battle with Skin Cancer. He was the lucky recipient of a Kidney Transplant in 1982 which lasted for 28 years! He would have been 59 today.
He attended Fairfax, graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa) from UCLA in '74 with a double major in Hist/Poly Sci and from Loyola in '78. A former attorney who started out in Imm. Law and then toiled like Bob Cratchit for 16 years as the Dir. of Compliance at the Pacific Stock Exchange, these "unhappy years" actually afforded him with much comic relief and wonderful friendships.
As fate intervened at 48, Ken bravely returned to UCLA in 2000, getting his M.A. in Libr. Sci to become a Reference Librarian. He happily worked for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher from 2002-2008, finally finding a 2nd career he truly loved and was passionate about.
Born in NY and raised in LA, Ken was a lifelong Dodger Fan, an avid WW2 History Buff and Mystery Book Lover, whose passion for Jazz, Baseball, Movies, B & W photography and books was extensive. He had a wicked sense of humor and was a fan of Starbucks Ice Tea, South Park, Dilbert and The New Yorker Cartoons! He has delighted many Editors over the years, having over 100 of his snarky and witty letters (Sports/Enter/Politics) published in the LA Times, Amer. Film Mag, NY Times Book Review, Newsweek and Enter Wkly. In 2000, his short story, "Better Instincts" was published in SHOTS - The Mag. for Crime & Mystery in Eng. & in 2004/05 was interviewed by Jared Sandberg for "CUBICLE CULTURE," in the Wall St. Journal.
A sweet and generous soul who touched so many people with his humor, friendship and compassion, he will be truly missed. He is survived by his wife, Elisa Goodman and their 18 year old parrot, Hightop. A Memorial is planned for Sat. Apr. 2nd at 1pm at the Writer's Guild Theatre, 135 S. Doheny Dr., BH. Please RSVP to: [email protected]. Donations to help defray Med. Exp can be made to: The Ken Marcus Memorial Fund c/o Wells Fargo: #7346805505 or The Jules Stein Orbital Disease Research Fund #40274 c/o Dr. Robert Goldberg (1) Jules Stein Plaza, L.A. CA 90095. Enormous gratitude to all of the Doctors and Nurses at UCLA and Cedars who gave Ken the best of their medical talents and their friendship to us as well.
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Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Marcus
Julie Schumer
March 15, 2011
I knew Ken in law school. He was one of my favorite people, funny, smart and sweet. Am so sorry to hear of his untimely passing and send condolences to Elisa, Hightop and the rest of the Marcus family.
Elisa Goodman
March 15, 2011
Thank you to all who have shared their thoughts and remembrances! This is a very nice way to share everyone's loss. Elisa and HIGHTOP!
Elaine Ledesma
March 11, 2011
Ken was my wonderful Boss at the Stock Exchange and he was truely a wonderful man with a heart of gold! I miss you and will never forget you Ken. My deepest sympathy goes out to Elisa and family.
Carole Fessler
March 6, 2011
"In memory of a wonderful life" I have not seen Ken since high school but the memories of him being a wonderful person and an excellent friend will always exist. My sincere sympathy to those who loved him.
Susan Rasky
March 3, 2011
Ken was a good friend in high school. We lost touch and reconnected many years later through another classmate, only to lose touch again. I am so sad to hear of his passing and so sorry to have missed all these years. My sympathies to his family.
Marlene Geller-Bracken
March 3, 2011
I remember Ken well, from Fairfax High, and am so sorry to hear he has passed away. Blessings go out to his family for courage and strength, during this difficult time of adjustment.
Winship Cook
March 3, 2011
There are two kinds of light - the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures. ~James Thurber
Ken - for us you will always be the light that illuminated our lives. You are missed.
Jenne Bergstrom
March 3, 2011
A life lived excellently! I miss you, Ken.
March 3, 2011
Ken was one of the sweetest and most generous people we've ever known. We loved him and miss him.
Cindy & Tim
char meyer
March 3, 2011
Amazingly talented! My thoughts are with Ken in (birthday and life )rememberances.
Char Meyer
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