BETH MARCUS

1961 - 2024

MARCUS--Beth Elyse. December 24, 1961 - December 1, 2024. Advocate for community development; brought joy and love to her family and friends. A native of Atlanta, GA, Beth graduated from The Galloway School and then made her way north, attending George Washington University and earning an undergraduate degree from Hampshire College and later a Master's degree in City Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This eloquent and gracious Southerner lived for many years around Boston and became an avid New Englander before settling in New York. For an urban Jewish woman who was the epitome of elegance with her silver hair, bright blue eyes and disciplined monochromatic uniform, she was also in her element in the great outdoors - hiking, snow shoeing, and pulling vegetables from her garden until the first frost. Beth was never more exuberant than in the presence of her two wonderful children. With the love of her life, Doug, she taught them to enjoy books and learning, and to appreciate the value of meaningful work; she also shared with them the joys of an ice cream cone and artfully hosting family gatherings. Even as her health was failing, Beth delighted in celebrating her children's weddings, their professional accomplishments and, above all, the arrival of their beautiful babies. Beth was intelligent, understated and immensely charming; she was also a spiritual person with deep- rooted values. As a teenager, she was an active leader of the B'Nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) in the southern region, and remained dedicated to Jewish culture and organizations her whole life. Beth had a long, distinguished career working in and with underserved neighborhoods across the country, starting with organizing limited equity home ownership co-ops in Boston's Jamaica Plain and including 16 years as an executive at the nation's leading community development finance organization, the Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC). While Beth was a policy wonk and a program visionary, to LISC colleagues her care for them was also exemplary. She never forgot to ask how they were doing and about their families, weekends and vacations, making space for authentic connection before diving into work. More recently, this daughter of a long-serving state representative and Atlanta community leader brought her expertise back home, championing the restoration and preservation of Piney Grove Cemetery in Buckhead. Dating to the early 19th century, the burial ground served a historic African-American community near where Beth grew up. Beth is survived and adored, and will be forever remembered for her warmth by her husband of 36 years, Douglas Schwarz; son, Marcus Schwarz (Emma Sokoloff); daughter, Dr. Julia Schwarz (Dr. Christopher Krasniak); loving big brother Bradley Marcus (Pam Marcus); sister Robyn Marcus; grandchildren Solomon Schwarz and Eliza Krasniak; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and a nephew. She is predeceased by her parents Charlotte and Sidney Marcus, and sister-in-law Elizabeth Schwarz (Lisa Perricone). A funeral service will be held at Central Synagogue in New York City on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 10am. Should you wish to contribute in Beth's memory, please consider donating to Friends of Piney Grove at: pineygrovecemetery.com.