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James Lawrence "Jim" Marks

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Cornell University University of New Hampshire

James Marks Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jul. 28, 2024.

James Lawrence Marks, known affectionately as Jim passed away on July 23, 2024, at the age of 74, in Delmar, New York. Born on January 16, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jim grew up nourished by a vibrant family and community that shaped his compassionate and humorous nature.

Jim's academic journey began at Resurrection grade school, followed by South Hills Catholic high school, and culminated with advanced degrees from Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. His passion for knowledge fueled a successful career in lab work which provided valuable information for diagnosis and made a significant impact worldwide.

Jim's personal life was enriched by his marriage to Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Hester. Together, they shared a love for adventure, exploring the globe, and enjoying nature through hiking, biking, and bird watching. An avid musician, Jim was also known in the Hudson Valley music scene as Lonesome Oscar, a member of the Shoe String Band. His music, like his garden in Stone Ridge, NY, was a testament to his creativity and dedication.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Liz, his siblings Mary Ann Stayer (James), Albert Marks, Jr. (Bennye), Kenneth Marks (Rosemary), Ray Marks (Stephanie), Nancy Welsh (Lawrence), and Amelia Dering (Jerry), along with several devoted nephews and a dear sister-in-law, Martha Lynch. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary Marks.

A Celebration of Life will be held September 7, 2024, from 3:00-6:00 at the Spinney at Van Dyke Clubhouse, 6 Parker Mathusa Place, Delmar NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an organization Jim passionately supported. His love for bird watching will continue to inspire through the contributions made in his memory. https://give.birds.cornell.edu

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Recent Activity

September 9, 2024

Amy Laber posted to the memorial.

September 3, 2024

Lisa Alcott posted to the memorial.

August 28, 2024

Jeff Silverstein posted to the memorial.

10 Entries

Amy Laber

September 9, 2024

I met Jim about 15 years ago, when I occasionally sat in to sing with the Shoe String Band. He was an incredibly kind, welcoming and inspiring friend. I learned something new from Jim each time we got together. It was always great fun to sing together. I´m grateful to have reconnected with him this past year and play music again at the old time jam he hosted in his community. Many fond memories. RIP, Jim. Much love to Liz.

Lisa Alcott

September 3, 2024

I met Jim through music. What a lovely, low-key, sweet, smart and funny guy. He radiated good nature and good humor. I wish I had seen more of him. RIP, Jim. Love to Liz.

Jeff Silverstein

August 28, 2024

I played with Jim in the Shoe String Band for close to 10 years and knew him for about 15 years. After the band faded due to the pandemic we discovered a mutual enjoyment of bike riding on our lovely Empire State Trail. And every moment of that time with Jim and Liz and the wonderful people I got to meet through Jim was a warm and friendly pleasure. I have wondered if Jim infected everyone with his calm demeanor and I think that´s the case. Never a cross or cranky word in all those years. Or maybe Jim was just a gravitational pull to nice people. I dunno and it doesn´t matter. Jim was a good friend, a fine musician, and we will not see his like again. I think about him everyday and I miss him terribly.

Terri Lukacko

August 13, 2024

Jim was a steady and fun-loving guitar player and manager for the Shoe String Band. 'Back in the day', we played at distilleries, breweries, wineries, farmer's markets, Saunderskill Plow Days, weddings, baptismal parties, Rosendale street fairs, and parties. And, most recently, Jim organized a vibrant monthly old time jam at the community where we both ended up recently. He will be mightily missed in festival campouts and house parties around our area.

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Vicki Folger

August 12, 2024

He came to work in the cytogenetics lab at Albany Medical Center. He was fun to work with, I remember he had a long drive to and from. He teased me because I was slightly older than him. I'm sad to hear of his death and my condolences to Liz and his family.

Tom Marks

August 5, 2024

My first memory of Jim is visiting him at his parent's house in probably 1966. I being his younger cousin, who was also really into snakes, and any other critter I could catch and keep as a pet. Jim was also into snakes, and always had very interesting pet snakes. We had a herpatological bond, and later, bonded via music and the outdoors. Jim made me laugh so many times, it's hard to pick one that stands out. We are missing him greatly.

anne grunert

July 31, 2024

we were fortunate to see jim and liz this past mid-june and spent a classic new england summer day with them. a leisurely walk around rachel carson wildlife refuge in wells, then a drive to find a place for lunch (ended up by the water, mussels, bluefish pate), then back into kennebunkport for some exceedingly tasty ice cream.
we met up with jim and liz almost every year for some time now when they came to maine for vacation. always a good visit, even when the weather was less ideal than this last time.
i will miss his kindness, his book reviews, his identification of plants and flowers, the music, his sense of humor and a smile that was sometimes quite impish, his ability to locate a good place to eat.....

Adam Nartowicz

July 31, 2024

That he was a thoughtful, intelligent person. The very definition of a gentleman.

Joseph Marks

July 30, 2024

I met and got to know a fantastic cousin who I hardly knew before we were well into adulthood. Music, good humor, love and fellowship bound us together for eternity at the IceFest weekends in upstate PA and any family gathering from 2005 onward. I'll miss you Jimmy!!

Sandy Preuhs

July 28, 2024

I learned that you should cherish your friends, play music, never stop exploring, and eat lots of cookies. He was a good man and a friend for over half a century. I'll miss him.

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