Marcel W. Zyto

Marcel W. Zyto, born in Paris, France, on May 30, 1923, to Syma and Jacob Zyto, died on May 19, 2010. He was the brother to Henriette Zyto (deceased in childhood) and to the late Henri Zyto, who was married to the late Mauricette. Marcel and his family endured significant challenges of daily living through the years, particularly during the Nazi occupation of France. Marcel worked while serving in the French Army and with the French Underground to help friends and family stay hidden from the Nazis. Marcel's cousin, Feivel Wichter, managed at age 15 to escape the Nazi SS troops when they stormed his home, taking away his mother and all his siblings to their deaths. Feivel survived by becoming one of the fortunate Jews who went to work for Oscar Schindler. After the war, he relocated to Argentina and remained close to Emilie Schindler, Oscar's widow, until she passed away. Later in life, Marcel and his wife would take a personal journey throughout the countries where the concentration camps were located. Through several thousand miles of driving, their pilgrimage eventually took them to Poland. Marcel was in search of relatives' graves, especially that of his sister, Henriette, who died in infancy. Unfortunately their search revealed that the Jewish Cemetery had been covered over with a park by the Polish government, making this lifelong quest of his impossible to accomplish. After the end of the occupation, Marcel emigrated to the U.S. on the Queen Mary in 1947. As Marcel recalled from the book he wrote, "the experience of entering the New York harbor under the watchful eyes of the Statue of Liberty was, indeed, a very unique experience. Every time I see her, it brings fond memories of that day on Aug. 5, 1947, when I knew that no matter what was in store for me in these United States, life would never quite be the same." Marcel worked odd jobs in New York, renting a room for $5 a week. At the French Veterans Group, Marcel met Albert Haimo, who became a dear friend for life, and helped Marcel get a job as a sales correspondent. Thus began his lifelong career in the pharmaceutical industry. Soon thereafter, Marcel moved to Syracuse, N.Y., to work for Bristol Labs. He met and married his wife, Muriel, there in 1953. The family moved to Queens, N.Y., and by June 1959, with two daughters in tow - Leslie, then age 4, and newborn Jacqueline, Marcel was relocated to Tokyo, Japan, where he started the firm Wyeth Far East. Marcel took up tennis and his occasional tennis partner was then-Crown Prince Akihito, now Emperor Akihito of Japan. Marcel's love of tennis continued up to a year before his death. Marcel's daughter, Leslie, took horseback riding lessons on the grounds of the Imperial Palace stables. Living in Japan, Marcel became an avid art collector, a hobby which continued throughout his life. He not only appreciated Japanese art, but was a careful keeper of the family's time and memories of living overseas through his passion for photography and film. The family remained in Japan until 1965, when they relocated to Hong Kong, where their daughter, Monique, was born. In 1967, the family returned to the United States, settling in Montclair, N.J. Marcel took up skiing in his 40s and skied until a year or so before his death. He continued swimming every other day until several weeks ago. Marcel continued his career in the pharmaceutical industry after returning to the United States, and later moved to North Caldwell, N.J., after retirement. His love of travel continued, and he and Muriel took many trips, including to the Orient, rounding the tip of South America, sailing throughout the Mediterranean, and venturing to the Near and Middle East. Marcel remained active in Cafe Europa, an organization dedicated to Jewish Holocaust survivors. Marcel is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Muriel; daughters, Leslie Celentano, Jacqueline Guerriere, and Monique Zyto, and grandchildren, Michael, Brandon and Morgan Celentano. Services will be held at Jewish Memorial Chapel, 841 Allwood Rd., Clifton, N.J., on Friday, May 21, at 12 noon. Interment will follow at Sanctuary of Abraham & Sarah, Cedar Park Cemetery, Paramus, N.J. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that memorial donations in Marcel's name be made to Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 95 Old Short Hills Rd., West Orange, N.J. 07052, (973) 322-4800.