Lauren Brian Marks

Lauren Brian Marks December 5, 1953 – April 23, 2013             Lauren B. Marks was born at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, the second child of Lauren Benjamin Marks and Elizabeth “Betty” Marks, both of whom were veterans of World War II.  Lauren was thoughtful, kind, and a good and gentle soul.  He attended Westwood Elementary School, Ralph Waldo Emerson JHS, University HS, Zahm HS, and Santa Monica College.  He maintained lifelong friendships with schoolmates and neighborhood friends.  After inheriting his share of the family home, Lauren chose to stay in West Los Angeles.             Lauren was employed by California FAIR Plan for the last 19 years of his life.  It was a job he really loved, with coworkers who were like family to him.  Prior to that, Lauren worked for Papermate Pen Company in Santa Monica, and the SoCal Gas Company.             Lauren expressed a deep love of music from an early age.  He took piano lessons, sang in the youth choir at Lutheran Church of the Master, and immersed himself in the music of the 60s when that whole scene was popping.  He taught himself to play the electric bass.  In 1986, he helped found the Elm Tree Blues Society and was a co-impresario for over 25 years.  At the age of 50, he decided that was really what he most wanted to do.  The frequent Elm Tree Blues Society jams were something he really looked forward to as he truly enjoyed entertaining people.  He also attended numerous music concerts, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of bands and musicians.             Lauren was a true fan of baseball.  He loved the LA Dodgers, attending Dodgers games, and memorizing an incredible amount of minutiae about the sport and players.             Lauren is survived by his sister Sharon Haney Wright, her husband David Wright, their son Joshua Haney and his life partner Emily Fitting, son Brendan Wright, brother Gregory S. Marks, uncle and aunt Robert and Janet Watson, five cousins and their children and grandchildren, as well as numerous friends. Arrangements were made by Pierce Brothers Westwood Village where his ashes will be inurned.