Ronald Marcus

1940 - 2025

Ronald Marcus
July 13, 1940 - April 14, 2025
Ronald Marcus, 84, a lifelong resident of Stamford, CT, passed peacefully on April 14, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and community. Ronald was born on the 13th of July 1940, to David and Jean Marcus. Like many Stamford babies of that era, he was delivered by Dr. Jacob Nemoitin at the Stamford Hospital, as was his sister, Sharon.
Cutting through a cemetery on the way to school led to years of friendship with Sarah Mead Webb, who sparked his interest in Stamford history. A history teacher's assignment to create battle plans for General Washington led to a long friendship with Ferguson Librarian, Grace Hope Wamsley, and a deep passion for all facets of the Revolutionary War.
Ronald joined the Stamford History Center at age 14. He served as their Research Librarian since 1970. He has transcribed, edited, and published over a dozen books, pamphlets, and research tools all pertaining to Stamford History. He was a devoted and enthusiastic mentor to countless individuals. Ronald's proudest accomplishment, or magnum opus as he referred to it, is "Stamford, Connecticut – A Bibliography".
Ronald took great pride in his work as a Scientific Glassblower, starting in 1962, at Machlett Laboratories in Springdale. In addition to live-saving x-ray tubes, Ronald enjoyed making "government jobs" such as vases made from wine bottles, glass flowers, and icicles.
Ronald met his wife, Virginia, at the Hoyt-Barnum House. The number she wrote in the guest book belonged to her mother, Evelyn Adams. After making a good impression with his future mother-in-law, Ronald and Virginia went on their first date to the Ferguson Library. They were married in 1968. They spent many happy years engrossed in all things research and history until Virginia's passing in 2009.
Ronald was a self-professed bibliophile, at any time possessing 10,000+ volumes on a variety of subjects. He spoke with pride about going to the Ferguson Library at five years old to obtain his first library card, which he used nearly daily till his passing.
Ronald is survived by his loving daughters, Elizabeth Adams Marcus and Sarah Katherine Marcus. He is also survived by his son-in-law, Kurt Damion Methodius Gombar, and his granddaughter, Cassandra Shiffri Gombar Marcus. Ronald would brag to anyone who would listen about his granddaughter's love of animals, competitive figure skating, and her job as an EMT.
Please join us on Saturday, April 19th, at 10 am at THOMAS M. GALLAGHER FUNERAL HOME 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT, (203)-359-9999. A procession will begin at 10:30am, through Stamford, with stops at the Old Town Hall, the Ferguson Library, and the Stamford History Center. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 am at Long Ridge Union Cemetery, 156 Erskine Rd., Stamford, CT 06903. A reception will follow at the Stamford History Center, 1508 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, CT 06903.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Stamford History Center are welcome and fitting given Ronald's lifetime of service to the organization. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com .