MARCUS "Pete" AARON II

AARON MARCUS II
Age 85, "Pete" to his family and friends, an almost lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, died peacefully on May 28, 2015, at home with family in the San Francisco Bay Area. Born on October 24,1929, Marcus Aaron lived a full and varied personal and professional life. He was a proud product of the Pittsburgh public schools, attending Wightman School and Taylor Allderdice HS (Class of 1945), before moving on to Princeton University (Class of 1950), and Harvard Law School (Class of 1953). Mr. Aaron served in the US Army for two years at Fort Riley, Kansas. After his return to Pittsburgh, he embarked on a legal career that spanned more than 40 years, initially practicing law in the office of the City Solicitor before moving to the private sector and working as a partner, primarily in the firm of Berkman, Ruslander, Pohl, Lieber & Engel, for most of his professional life. He enjoyed a diverse legal practice that encompassed work as a litigator, as well as activities in corporate, health care, and loss prevention matters. Concurrent with his legal career, Mr. Aaron joined the Board of the Homer Laughlin China Company in 1967, the business that his family co-owned for four generations, eventually serving as President of the company from 1989-2001. Although he retired in 2001, he remained an involved member of the Board of the company until March of 2015. Mr. Aaron was a loyal and generous "Burgh" man, serving as a devoted Board member and leader of an array of community organizations including Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, Jewish Family and Children's Service, the UJF, Rodef Shalom Temple, and Princeton Alumni Association of Western Pennsylvania. He was a longtime member of the HYP and Concordia Clubs, and the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Aaron enjoyed a good game of tennis, hiking up mountain trails on many continents, photography, traveling extensively with his late wife, Barbara, other family, and friends. He remained an enthusiastic fan of Pittsburgh sports teams, especially the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates, sharing frequent alerts and updates on scores with his grandchildren and children alike! Mr. Aaron was predeceased by his wife, Barbara G. Aaron; his sister, Frances A. Hess; and will be dearly missed by his daughters, Susan Aaron (Steve Sherman), Judy Aaron Penner (George), Barbara Aaron Rosston (Greg); grandchildren, Isaac and Marina Sherman, Kate and Oliver Penner, Sarah and Peter Rosston; his sisters, Maxine G.A. Rosston, Elinor G.A. Langer (Jim); sister-in-law, Mary Ann Aronson, all of California; and many loving members of his extended family and friends. A private family memorial will be held in California at a later date. Gifts in Pete's memory may be made to the Marcus Aaron II Scholarship Fund at Princeton University, or a charity of your choice.
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