Ruth Marcus

Marcus, Ruth Barcan Yale philosophy professor emeritus, 90 years old, died peacefully at her home in New Haven on Sunday evening February 19, 2012, after a period of failing health. Born in New York City in 1921, Marcus grew up in the Bronx, the youngest of three daughters of eastern European immigrants, Samuel Barcan, a printer for The Jewish Daily Forward, and Rose Post Barcan. Educated in NYC public schools, she went on to attend NYU graduating with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and philosophy and then onto Yale earning her PhD. in Philosophy in 1946. While at Yale she met Jules A. Marcus, a graduate student in physics. They married in '42 and raised four children in Evanston, Il. They later divorced but remained good friends. Ruth and Jules moved to the Chicago area after WWII. They settled in northeast Evanston where they spent twenty-five happy years raising their family. Marcus took her first teaching post at Roosevelt University. She went onto to become the founder of the philosophy department at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1964. After three years at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, Marcus returned to Yale in 1973, retiring in 1992. Marcus served as chair of the American Philosophical Association from 1976-'83, winning numerous accolades for her work. She was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, Yale's Wilbur Cross Medal, the American Philosophical Association's Quinn Prize for service to philosophy, the Medal of the College de France, and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, the Center for Advanced Study at the University of Illinois, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford, Wolfson College, Oxford, Clare Hall, Cambridge, and the National Humanities Center. An academic pioneer and generous mentor to the very end, Marcus helped pave the way for women in academia. A serious athlete, she was a champion fencer at NYU and would have competed at the 1942 Olympic games had they not been cancelled because of World War II. She loved a competitive game of tennis, table tennis, and squash. An appreciator of the arts, her musical tastes ranged from jazz to classical. Those who knew her enjoyed her heart-felt renditions of the popular songs of the thirties and forties. She could also cut a rug when in the mood. Possessor of a fierce moral center, she was a relentless seeker of the truth. Marcus is survived by her sister, Hilda Fishback of Maryland; children, James, of Boston, Peter, of DeWitt, NY, Katherine, of NYC, Libby and son-in-law, Davis Robinson, of Portland, ME; three grand-children and many nieces, nephews and extended family. The family would like to offer particular thanks to Yaa Woode, Mr. John Olson, Bitsie Clark and East Rock Village, All About You Home Care Agency, and the Yale Department of Internal Medicine for their supportive care. Donations in Ruth's memory may be made to either the ACLU at 125 Broad St., NY, NY 10004 or www.aclu.org/donating or The Elizabethan Club, 459 College St., New Haven, CT 06511 or to a organization of one's choice. A memorial service celebrating Ruth's life and work will be held at a later date. The LUPINSKI FUNERAL HOME 821 State Street, New Haven was in care of arrangements. Sign Ruth's guest book at www.lupinskifuneralhome.com.