July 17, 2019 surrounded by her family. She was born Margaret Helene Berger in
Hannover, Germany on May 28,1923 to Meta Klages Berger and Henry August
Berger. She studied languages in Gymnasium in Hannover. She married the late
Roy Holtan in 1950. She is survived by her children: Brian Holtan and his wife
Annika Holtan, Gary Holtan, Kim Holtan Lang and her husband Gilman Lang;
her grandchildren Alexandra Walker and her husband John Walker, Todd Holtan,
and Peter Holtan; and her son-in-law Robert Rossiter. She was predeceased by her husband, and her daughter, Lesley
Marlene Rossiter. She left as she lived, on her own terms, embraced by the
love of her family and in the beauty of her beloved home.
Marlene was a kind, generous person with great charisma. She led a long rich
life, experiencing both poverty and wealth, and joy and tragedy. She was a
polyglot and worked as a translator for the US military in post-WWII Berlin.
She went on to use her skills at the East Asiatic Company in the USA at a time
when few women held managerial positions. She became a businesswoman who owned
and managed numerous apartments in Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights. She took
pride in meticulously renovating and maintaining her properties. Her
professional relationships became close, durable friendships over the years.
Marlene was civic minded, focusing her energies and talents locally. She
volunteered at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, and
The Park Slope Civic Council. She successfully campaigned door-to-door in the
1960's to plant the many trees that now garnish the streets of Park Slope. She
was a forerunner in stoop gardens, tearing up concrete and planting. As an
empty nester she became a docent at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, giving
frequent tours, at times in German. A firm believer in supporting her local
community, she developed many friendships with local restaurateurs and
shopkeepers.
A Renaissance woman, Marlene was both a student and a patron of the arts. She
loved and supported NYC's theaters, opera, museums, and gardens. She had an
insatiable curiosity and was a lifelong learner with an enduring love of
travel and adventure. She loved the mountains and became a skier so her family
could share a lifetime sport. Every winter weekend the family was packed up
for ski trips to the Catskills as members of the Norway Ski Club. She skied
and travelled well into her 80’s. She also had a deep, abiding love of the
ocean. A summer home in Cape May was another beautiful location where family
and friends could gather and enjoy activities surrounded by nature's beauty.
Marlene had a unique, vivacious style and was recognizable by her signature
hats. She was a hostess by nature with a knack for creating inviting spaces
where people could gather to share. Her joy in life was infectious, and her
will to live life on her own terms was a lesson in how far determination can
take a person when followed up with action. Marlene's greatest pride and joy
was her family. She instilled in them these values of community, style,
adventure, travel and joie de vivre. She is greatly missed.
There will be a Celebration of her Life for family and friends at her home on
August 18th. Please contact family members for details.
To help make the world a better place, in lieu of flowers please consider a
donation in her honor to The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, where everyone can
enjoy them. https://www.bbg.org/support/dedications
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