Dr. Arthur R. Marks

Dr. Arthur R. Marks passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2014, at Wesley Palms Assisted Living in San Diego, California. He was 94 years old.
On July 22, 1919, Daniel and Rena Marks gave birth to their only child, Arthur, in Chicago, Illinois. He attended elementary and high school there before heading to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana for his undergraduate degree. After completing the four-year program in two years, he attended the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago as one of the youngest medical students in his class.
After graduation and one internship, World War II began. Dr. Marks served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a battalion surgeon attaining the final rank of captain. When he returned from the military, Dr. Marks completed additional internship and residency training in Chicago.
He started his private practice in 1950 in Fairfield, IL. That same year, Fairfield Memorial Hospital opened. In addition to general surgery, Dr. Marks performed tonsillectomies, prostate surgeries, hip replacements - and almost everything in between - as the only surgeon in the area for a number of years.
He loved physical fitness, tennis and traveling. He served as a member of the Fairfield Park District for 10 years and as president for eight years. He remained in Fairfield until his retirement 37 years later.
In 1987, Dr. Marks moved to La Jolla, California, to retire. After a few months, he returned to work in clinics and emergency rooms, treating patients and practicing medicine until he was 90 years old.
He is survived by two daughters, Daryl (R.J) Nelkin of Sevierville, TN, and Melisse Marks (Richard) of Cincinnati, OH; three sons, Dan Marks of Carbondale, IL, John Marks of Bluford, IL, and Dr. Anthony (Lisa) Marks of La Jolla, CA; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and long-time companion, Becky Rodkin.
On March 7, 2014, there will be a private memorial service with military burial at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, CA.
Memorial donations may be given to Sharp Hospice Care: http://www.sharp.com/hospice/how-to-give.cfm, or the Jacaranda tree Memorial, http://www.villagegardencluboflajolla.com/Jacaranda_Form.html.