Marna Pearl Brener

Marna Pearl Brener of New York City passed away on April 7, 2020, just a week after her 90th birthday on March 31. She was born in Atlantic City, NJ to Jean and Robert Spero. Shortly after her sister Anita was born, the family moved to Brooklyn, NY. After graduating with an associate’s degree from Brooklyn Technical College, Marna became a fashion illustrator, working as a free-lance artist creating advertisement for major department stores. After marrying Noel Brener in 1959, becoming Mom to three children, and taking up residence in Queens, NY, she entered the next phase of her career as a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC.

Marna was loved by her students, revered by her colleagues, and eventually became chairperson of her department. During all of this activity and after moving to East Northport, NY, she decided to further her education and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the New York Institute of Technology in 1978. As empty-nesters, Marna and Noel “moved-on-up” into Manhattan in 1985.

After her retirement in 1992 and until Noel’s passing in 2008, the duo spent long weekends at a series of lakeside houses in the Catskills and the Lower Hudson Valley, where Marna was able to expand her life-long passion for gardening. She was also a life-long fan of big band music, and loved to dance to it. When she was in the mood, Marna would occasionally play some piano. One of her favorite songs, “Fur Elise,” will always be very fondly remembered by her children.

She is survived by sons Adam and Jason, daughter Amy, grandchildren Emily and Leah, nieces/nephews Lauren Henry, Mark Brehm, Laura Brener, David Brener, & Paul Brener. Since only a private service for immediate family is permissible under current unfortunate circumstances, a memorial celebration of Marna’s life will be scheduled at a later date. Meanwhile, it’s very likely she and her husband will be sharing a heavenly martini.