Marilyn Formaker

Our brilliant, accomplished, and beloved mother, Marilyn Formaker, died October 28, 2025, at the age of 95. The daughter of immigrants Isaac and Lena Wolf and the youngest of seven children, she demonstrated exceptional abilities from an early age. She was valedictorian of her class and the recipient of numerous awards at Saratoga Springs High School in New York, and she was offered both a Regents Scholarship in New York and an academic scholarship to attend USC in Los Angeles. Luckily for our family, she chose USC, where she met the love of her life, Mel, to whom she was married for over 69 years until his death. While at USC, Marilyn was elected Vice President of the student body (the highest office a woman could achieve in student government at the time) and was named a Helen of Troy and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, among other honors. Marilyn and Mel raised three children: Steven Formaker, an attorney, and twins James Formaker, a dentist, and Susan Formaker, an administrative law judge. After her children completed their respective educations, and fulfilling a long-held desire to become an attorney, Marilyn enrolled at UCLA School of Law at the age of 54. She graduated from law school and became a member of the State Bar of California in 1987. She then became a senior research attorney with the California Court of Appeal, where her fierce intelligence, exemplary writing abilities, organization, and compassion earned her the respect of the justices and her colleagues. Marilyn and Mel were inveterate travelers, visiting dozens of countries across six continents. Her curiosity never ceased, and even after suffering two strokes, she continued reading and researching myriad subjects and speaking her mind on politics until shortly before she passed. Marilyn was a feminist, forged her own path in life, and was a role model for her daughter, granddaughter, and nieces. She is survived by her children and their respective spouses, Steven (Laurie), James (Angel Matos), and Susan (Daniel Olivas), her grandchildren, Benjamin Formaker-Olivas and Rachel Formaker, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Services will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marilyn's memory to Planned Parenthood Los Angeles at:
www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-los-angeles
or to the Beverly Reid O'Connell Scholarship Fund at:
www.wlala.org/product/donate-to-the-beverly-reid-oconnell-scholarship-fund