David E. Marrus

We grieve the loss of our beloved David. Loving father, grandfather and brother to Naomi Marks, predeceased by his wife, Judith. His vision and energy were always directed toward our family and our needs. His pride in his children, Michael and Lauren (Winer) and Andrew and Jennifer (Kochman), was boundless as was his great love for his grandchildren, Samantha, Jacob, Ryan and Evan. His parents, Seth and Bertha (Stern) initiated his lifelong curiosity and the passions for travel and photography he would cultivate throughout his life.

He began his education at Brooklyn Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School, from which he proceeded to North Carolina State College and then to serve in the army during the Korean War. Having already made a host of lifelong friends, he started his career with the International Business Machines Corporation. During his time at IBM, he engaged and married the love of his life, Judi. Later, he went on to help develop Roosevelt Island while at the Urban Development Corporation, before serving as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of I.B.E.C. Housing International. Subsequently, he directed Starrett Housing International’s overseas activities as the firm’s President. These experiences led to him consulting in the real estate industry, where he was particularly proud to facilitate the first expansion of the Museum of Modern Art, along with the related construction of the Museum Tower in New York City.

Throughout his career, he kept honing his appreciation for and skill with photography, which culminated in his two personal monographs, Viewpoints and Pictures from my Album, each of which contained his favorite images from years of widespread travel with his wife, Judi. These images, along with a large and fascinating collection of photographs and art brought an unmistakable warmth and texture to the walls of their home. He deeply enjoyed his life, swimming in his pool and watching the birds in the backyard, but he missed his dear Judi greatly over the last 14 months.

David leaves an aching space in all of our hearts. He was a noble, virtuous and highly principled man with a deep philanthropic sense, greatly respected by his many friends and colleagues. A past President and Life Trustee of The Congregation Temple Emanu-El of New York City, he was also a member of the Lotos Club, Hollywood Golf Club and a past President of the Ocean Beach Club where he spent summer days floating in the ocean. May this, his final travel, be a journey of peace and a reunion with his beloved Judi.

Mr. Marrus resided in Rumson, NJ and New York, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ or Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA in favor of Anthony D’Amico, MD, PhD whose research he strongly supported. Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. Private family service.