David Marks

MARKS--David V. P., 54, of Manhattan, passed away on July 8, 2009. Beloved son of the late Margaret and John Marks, he was the cherished brother of Michael Marks and the late Laura Marks, the brother-in-law of Jill Darrow, and the loving uncle of Katie and John Marks, whom he adored. David was privileged to attend The Dalton School; Harvard College, where he studied economics under Nobel laureates Kenneth Arrow and Wassily Leontief and graduated summa cum laude; Harvard Law School, where he received his J.D. degree, cum laude; and the Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, where he studied under Nobel laureate Thomas Schelling and received his A.M. and Ph.D. degrees in economics. David's scholarly publications include "Competition in the Investment Banking Industry" (Harvard University Press), co-authored with Harvard Business School Professors Samuel L. Hayes, III and A. Michael Spence, and "Signposting: The Selective Revelation of Product Information" (Harvard Business School Press), co-authored with Kennedy School of Government Professor Richard J. Zeckhauser. David was a member of the bar in Massachusetts and New York. David began his business career as President of The GMS Group, Inc., a strategic consulting firm that he formed with two Harvard Law School professors to furnish advice to firms in the financial services sector. Later, David was President of an independent music publishing company, St. Nicholas Music Inc., and was a private investor in intellectual property, securities, fine art and other assets. David's interests were numerous and varied. He studied and collected Renaissance and 19th century Renaissance revival decorative arts, arms and armor, and furnishings. He was a longtime student of the history of New York architecture, especially its residential architecture. He served on the boards of various preservation organizations including Carnegie Hill Neighbors, the Defenders of the Historic Upper East Side, and the Historic Neighborhood Enhancement Alliance. David was active in The Episcopal Chaplaincy at Harvard for 30 years, including serving as Finance Committee Member, Treasurer, Vice President and, most recently, President. David's quest for perfection in everything he did was an inspiration to all who knew him. He also encouraged and cultivated perfection in all of those around him, the end result of which was a litany of enduring friendships. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 13, at 11:30am at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue at 81st Street. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David's memory to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue New York, NY 10065, www.mskcc.org.