Marvin Elfman

1926 - 2024

Marvin Elfman of Walkersville, MD passed away peacefully at Dobson Plaza in Evanston, IL on Friday, November 8th, 2024 at the age of 97. Born on November 16, 1926 in Chester, PA, Marvin was the son of the late Harry and Esther (nee Posner) Elfman. He was a musician in high school, taking drum lessons from Ralph Jones, who would one day be the drummer for Billy Haley & His Comets. He maintained a lifelong love of music, especially Jazz. After graduating high school in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the minesweeper USS Minivet AM-371 and sent to Okinawa to clear mines. He survived the sinking of the ship after hitting a mine in the Tsushima Straight on December 29, 1945. After returning home, he worked at Gimbel's in Philadelphia, as a night manager for a hotel in Atlantic City, then moved to Washington, D.C. to work in retail. He married his beloved late wife Sylvia (nee Dorris) in 1972 and they spent 51 years together.

Marvin combined his entrepreneurial spirit with his passion for retail and owned Children's Bazaar in Fredericktowne Mall from 1975 to 1986. An active member of the community, he served on the Board of Beth Shalom Synagogue, volunteered for the Frederick Chamber of Commerce, and served as a SCORE Chapter Chair and Business Counselor, helping counsel others launching a new business. He was a member of many community organizations, including the Elks Lodge and the Lions Club.

He is survived by his two loving daughters, Elisha Brandes (Seth) of Chicago, IL and Michelle Cohen (Jared) of Washington, D.C., and his 7 grandchildren, Temima, Leora, Tova, Mina and Yaakov Brandes and Jonah and Eli Cohen. Marvin was predeceased by his brother Joseph Elfman.

Services will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 Catoctin Mountain Highway, Frederick, MD 21701.

Please omit flowers. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Chabad Lubavitch of Frederick, 1 West 9th Street, Frederick, MD 21701 or Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, www.ascensionillinoisfoundation.org/giverainbow. Marvin Elfman