Bernard Marks

1938 - 2020

BERNARD LOUIS MARKS

Bernard "Bernie" Marks, who in his long, happy life was both a successful businessman in Chicago and an accomplished artist in Santa Fe, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2020 at Christus St. Vincent Hospital following years of struggle with the aftereffects of a rare brain disease that struck him in 2011.
Bernie was born in Elmira, NY on November 14, 1938 to Sidney and Minnie Marks. He studied at Loyola University of New Orleans and began his business career there before relocating to Shreveport, where in 1965 he met Martha Alford. They married in 1968 and the next year moved to Chicagoland. In 1977, Bernie completed his MBA at the University of Chicago and soon after founded a marketing and advertising agency that he ran until his retirement in 2006.
On vacation in 1994, Bernie and Martha fell in love with Santa Fe. It took them years to separate from work and community life in Lake County, IL but they considered the effort worth doing. Bernie's natural artistic talent blossomed after they moved here in 2002. Over two decades of exploring New Mexico and other parts of the Southwest and West, he captured in watercolors, acrylics, and oils-and with his vivid colors and expressive painting style-the splendor of national parks and other scenic wonders. Two Canyon Road galleries, Waxlander and Lennon Fine Art, represented his work, as did others in Arizona and Utah. International Artist magazine repeatedly featured Bernie's artwork, including step-by-step demonstration articles. He won awards there, too, and also in state and national competitions. He was thrilled by what he considered the capstone of his art career: being invited by the National Park Service, when he was 80, to serve as "Artist in Residence" at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. He accepted and had a marvelous time painting there for two weeks in September 2019.
In 2012, Bernie and Martha moved to El Castillo Retirement Community. For the last six years of his life, Bernie used his business skills as chairman of the Finance Committee of the Residents Association. He continued painting until shortly before his death.
Bernie is survived by his wife Martha, brother Murray, sister Rozanne, niece Sara, and nephews Steven and Oliver.
The family is grateful to the fine doctors, nurses, and home health specialists who cared for Bernie at various times between 2011 and 2020. Sometime in the post-Covid future, Martha will host at El Castillo a celebration of his life and art.