Marilyn Goldstein

Marilyn Suckov was born to the union of the late Abe and the late Gertrude Suckov in Chicago, Illinois on April 12, 1932. She was the second and only girl, of three children that came from that holy matrimony. Marilyn was affectionately known as Mimi to her family and friends. She grew up on Fourteenth and St. Louis streets as a proud resident of Chicago’s West side, and followed her older brother (the late Jack Suekov) in graduating from Harrison High School. She loved to recount stories of her childhood walks on Roosevelt road, and the strength and unity she experienced growing up in a strong predominately Jewish community. The majority of her parents’ generation was eastern European Jewish Immigrants and she was raised in a home where the prevalent language spoken was Yiddish in which she was a proficient communicator. Her family as a child was the center of her life. However, that family was much more than just those she lived with, including Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and a host of relatives from Granville Illinois. Marilyn inherited a strong ability to create in the kitchen from her Mother Gert and a loyalty and love for family from her dear Father Abe. In 1953 she betrayed her west side roots and married a Humboldt Park North sider the late Alvin Michaels. The treachery was complete when she moved to Potomac Avenue and started a family. From that union four children were born. Marilyn always wanted a daughter and so subsequently Steven, Bruce, Reid and David not only learned to cook and clean, but were serenaded as infants to her favorite lullaby about a Mother and her Daughter called Scarlet Ribbons. After twenty years of marriage Marilyn found herself alone and single when she and Alvin parted ways. She was able to get thru that challenging period in her life with the encouragement of her parents who had enormous influence in supporting her and her children. In 1973 fortune smiled on Marilyn when she met and married her soul mate the late Seymour Goldstein. They spent the next 30 years living, laughing and loving, sharing in a romance rivaled only by a fairytale.

Marilyn’s greatest passion was cooking and she particularly enjoyed cooking for Jewish holidays. She was renowned for so many dishes, but a few stand out to the point that although a written recipe may exist, nobody will ever be able to replicate her mastery in the kitchen. Days in preparation of holiday favorites like Brisket (with Jell-O mold on the same plate touching the brisket’s gravy), Kugel, Matzo Ball soup, and gefitle fish were her modus operandi with enough food prepared for twice as many people that were invited. With the passion and zeal of an artist, she gracefully bound about the kitchen creating a daily bounty. Time consuming dishes never intimidated her because she enjoyed being in the kitchen so very much. Garlic bread (the only thing she never made enough of), sweet and sour meatballs, and seven layer salads, could easily be found in an average run of the mill evening dinner. Marilyn’s ultimate passion was dessert of any kind and bananas foster was one that made her ooh and ahh with ecstasy, while her family and guests would ooh and ahh when she flamed the pan. If Marilyn wasn’t making dessert her greatest desire could be found only at Dairy Queen in the form of a banana split. While she was a master communicator both verbally and in writing, she would describe her beloved banana split in the plainest of terms, “it was simply yummy.”

Marilyn enjoyed socializing and made lifelong friends in what her children referred to as the cult of Jewish Marriage Encounter. She and Seymour enjoyed participated in meetings and retreats with her CD group and that gave her the opportunity to do several things that she enjoyed. When hosting the meetings it allowed her to cook. When attending meetings at other member’s homes she could enjoy their efforts in the kitchen, and naturally she would bring something she cooked as well. Meetings also were structured with dialogue and introspective thoughts on marriage and self, which enabled her sensitive side (which was the only side she had) to come out in the form of one of her greatest passions, which was writing. Her beautiful cursive penmanship flowed on paper like a work of art. She painted her thoughts on a canvas of paper that would marry words together in a flow of elegance and refinement that left the reader captivated. Writing was Marilyn’s therapy and joy. It came to her effortlessly and everyone who knew her relished the opportunity to listen to or read the rapture of her soul that danced on the pages. Her drawers, books, and cabinets were filled with yellow steno pad pieces of paper that captured Marilyn’s passions, thoughts and desires. Wherever she sat, there was always a pen and paper on a table within hands reach for her to express herself with on a whim. Marilyn also had a profound love of music and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice which she wasn’t afraid to share with the world. Some of her big band favorites included Tony Martin, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, and Jewish melodies from Fiddler on the Roof. Marilyn would often be found humming and singing as she busied herself around the house with a pleasant tone.

Marilyn was called to meet her maker on September 17, 2016 leaving a void in the lives of so many. She is survived by her four sons, Steven (Marybeth), Bruce (Melvin), Reid (Lynn) and David (Grace). Grandchildren, James (Lori), William Michaels, and her favorite Katie (Michael) Griff, Emily (Jason) Franco, and Kamila Sakwa. Fourteen Great-Grandchildren and a host of friends.

Marilyn’s pen and paper has been laid down, and the fire of the stove has been extinguished. However, the passion of her heart, and the flame of her memory shall live on. Inspiring those who knew her, as well as those who had only heard tales of her, to live with fervor for life, and love with a heart of kindness; as we abide protected by the shadow of her spirit, as she prepares a table in heaven for a day when we will all meet again. Shalom to an angel that has flown.

Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein and Piser Funeral Home 111 Skokie Boulevard, Wilmette, IL 60091