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MARCIA VALERIE TANUR M.D.

FUNERAL HOME

Levine Chapels

470 Harvard Street

Brookline, Massachusetts

MARCIA TANUR Obituary

TANUR, Marcia Valerie, MD Age 62, physician and social justice warrior and longtime resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts passed away suddenly in her home in Durham, NH surrounded by her spouse and two children on February 12, 2022. A beloved wife to Victoria Gurfolino, proud mother to her two children Max Jorge Tanur and Emma Chun Tanur, and loving daughter to Michael and Judith Tanur. She is preceded in death by her beloved sister Rachel Tanur (2002). A graduate of Albany Medical School in 1990, she practiced medicine in the Greater Boston community. An advocate for all, she practiced family medicine, acupuncture, and specialized in addiction medicine. She traveled to other parts of the country and South America to provide relief services to those in crisis. With a small group of her colleagues, she started a confidential free health clinic in Watertown, MA for immigrants who were uninsured. She never worked less than two jobs as she was driven to help as many people as she could in all types of communities. Despite having health complications since her twenties, she never stopped working to help others. Her life's work as a physician is a forceful testimony to her passion for serving the underserved. Marcia had always wanted a family and despite gay marriage not being legal in the U.S. at the time, she saved up and in 1999, traveled with Vicky across the world to adopt Max from Guatemala and Emma from China. Her love for her children was infinitely large and immensely bright. As a multicultural being and loving mom, she signed her whole family up for a week-long Spanish camp, took Emma to her adoptee group every Sunday for nineteen years, brought us to Chinese New Year celebrations, and took us every week to Sunday School at the Workmen's Circle to connect with our Jewish roots. Her children had the good fortune to grow up in accepting and multicultural spaces because of her constant efforts for them to have a community. She was the engineer of many adventurous family trips to Italy, Denmark, Paris, Canada, California, New Mexico, England, Scotland, Florida, and many more destinations. In 2021, she and her family moved to a second home in Durham, which was a source of much joy and solace. Family meant everything to her, and she will be missed every day. She was a wonderful force of life, and her death is a loss for all. Her funeral will be held on Friday, February 18 at 11:30 AM at Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, requiring masks. To honor her memory, donations may be made to organizations listed at http://rememberingmvt.squarespace.com. Levine Chapels, Brookline 617-277-8300 www.levinechapel.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Feb. 16 to Feb. 17, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for MARCIA TANUR

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The Staff of Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home

March 2, 2022

Offering our deepest condolences at this difficult time.

Carol Goodman

February 21, 2022

I remember Marcia from Kensington-Johnson Elementary School. She was an extraordinary person then and I moved to see what an extraordinary life she led. My love and condolences to her family.

Wendy Rzasa

February 20, 2022

My deepest sympathy to her family, friends and colleagues. She will truly be missed. She made sure I kept my spirits up through my illness and recovery! She had big plans for me unfortunately the universe had other ideas. I will miss our late night check ins. She will forever live in my heart. Now, we will have to figure out how to carry on where she left off! Big shoes to fill, but we will fill them together

Paula Mangiacotti

February 19, 2022

I will sorely miss seeing Dr. Tanur or "Dr. T" every Monday as I was a patient of hers for the past year. She was the most caring and compassionate doctor I've ever met; very invested in her patients. Her passing is sudden, shocking & truly a loss. I wish nothing but peace & healing for her family & loved ones.

Single Memorial Tree

Flaminia Saccà

Planted Trees

Dan and Rusti Levin, St. Louis

February 18, 2022

We send our deepest love and sympathy to Marcia's friends and family and we are sorry we cannot be with you today. Marcia was truly beautiful in every way.

Plant a Tree & Name a Star

Dan and Rusti Levin

Sent Flowers

Single Memorial Tree

Carolyn Ellis

Planted Trees

Simone Taylor

February 17, 2022

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

Alice and Jerry Tobias

February 17, 2022

we are so very sorry about your loss.. she sounds like a wonderful person and will be missed, but always loved and thought of.

Single Memorial Tree

Jill Martin Clements

Planted Trees

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results

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Memorial Events
for MARCIA TANUR

Feb

18

Funeral

11:30 a.m.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

580 Mount Auburn Street , Cambridge, MA

Funeral services provided by:

Levine Chapels

470 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446

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