Chester "Chet" L. Marcus Jr.

Master Sergeant Chester “Chet” Lee Marcus, Jr., 65, passed away at the Veterans Affairs Community Living Center in Lyons, New Jersey on April 13, 2020. An Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm and The Global War on Terror, he served his nation for nearly half his life.

MSG Marcus was born on September 25, 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio where he spent most of his childhood. He and his family lived in Teaneck, NJ before he left for Boston, MA to attend Emerson College. While at Emerson, he studied music for which he had great passion.

In 1985, MSG Marcus joined the United States Army. He worked as a Public Affairs Specialist throughout his 29 year military career – serving in Germany, Haiti, El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and most recently in Iraq. A proud recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2010) and the Meritorious Service Award (1993 and 2006), MSG Marcus retired from the US Army on May 23, 2014.

MSG Marcus is survived by his devoted wife, Oriett, whom he married on his birthday 21 years ago, his loving sons; Harold Marcus, Alfonso Marcus, Cris Pardo, Kevin Pardo, Laurence Marcus and Robert Marcus, his biological mother Mae Harris, his cherished grandchildren; Zakary, Antonio, Tristan and Remi, his father in law and mother in law, Fuad and Melida Deik, his daughters in law; Amanda Pardo and Nichole Pardo, brother in law and sisters in law Frank Deik and his wife Caryn, David Deik and his wife Tracy, Carol Deik, sister Kathryn Priscilla Marcus, as well as his niece and nephews; Angelina Deik, Dominic Deik, Antonio Deik and Matthew Deik. Chester was predeceased by his adoptive parents Chester Marcus, Sr. and Warnetta Patton Marcus and his sister Jacqueline Harris Rhea.

He is also survived by his extended family -- his military brothers and sisters. MSG Marcus shared an unbreakable bond with these men and women. He had many loves in his life – his country, his community, his music -- but what he loved the most was his family, who will continue to keep him alive in their hearts, forever.

A natural musician, MSG Marcus enjoyed writing songs, playing instruments, and producing music and founded Tryon Park Records. Upon returning home from the Middle East, MSG Marcus made an instrumental album entitled “Desert Songs” devoted to his brothers in uniform serving in Desert Storm.

A private interment with Full Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA, will take place on July 21, 2020. A virtual celebration of life will be held on Sunday May 17, 2020 at 3 pm, Eastern Standard Time. In lieu of flowers, Chet’s family will be accepting donations through a Go Fund Me (link to follow)

Please visit www.andersoncampbellmanchester.com, to offer condolences or share a memory of MSG Marcus. Please keep his loving family in your thoughts and prayers

Throughout his long career, MSG Marcus attained many academic achievements and received scores of medals and awards, both military and civilian. Please take the time to read of all his accomplishments below.

Education:

Major: Public Affairs; Minor: Broadcasting; Defense Information School (10/04/1991 - 09/24/1997) Ft Meade, Maryland, United States

▪Wilbraham Academy, College Prep. MA / 1969/1973 /1 year, Teaneck H.S. NJ

▪Emerson College, Boston MA, Mass Communications 1975

▪University of Maryland, Frankfurt, Germany, German language course 1986

▪Advertising and Marketing Course at the J. Walter Thompson Ad Agency 1989

▪Re-matriculated Emerson College Sept. 6, 1991 BS, Mass Communication, 1992

▪NPPA Television News Video Camera Workshop. University of Oklahoma. 1993

▪Sony UVW Beta Television Production Repair Course. Sony Video Institute, NJ 1995

▪U.S. Army Quartermaster School, Ft. Lee, VA 1985

▪Primary Leadership Development, Honor Graduate/Region I, Ft. Indiantown Gap, PA 1990

▪Non-Commission Officer in Charge of film/video Moral Support, Desert Storm, 1991

▪46/R Broadcaster Course 10/08/1991 to 17/02/1991 (Class Leader)

▪Public Affairs Supervisor Basic NCO Course 11/04/1994 to 13/05/1994

▪Academic Average 90.44

▪Public Affairs Supervisor Advanced NCO Course 22/05/1995 to 07/07/1995

▪Academic Average 93.89

▪Public Affairs Officers Course (46A) 22/07/1997 to 24/09/1997

▪Academic Average 88.44

▪Lanes Training Observer/Controller Course, 78th DIV, Ft. Dix, NJ 1998 (OC)

▪ROTC School of Cadet Command, cadre course, Fort Monroe, VA 1998 (ROTC)

▪Army Instructor Training Course, 10th BN, 98th DIV, Lodi, NJ 2000 (Instructor)

▪Army Small Group Instructor Course, 8th Brigade, 98th DIV, Ft Dix, NJ 2000

▪Department of Defense Emergency Preparedness Training FEMA. Atlanta GA 1997

▪Family Support Facilitator Course, by Sales & Management Training, Inc. 1995

▪Joint Service Software Course, DOIM 77th ARCOM Ft. Totten, NY 1993 (Internet)

▪77th Regional Support Command Employee Assistance Program Course, 1996

Civic Awards:

▪Queens Borough President, Citation of Honor 2006

▪Civic Awards: Littleneck-Douglaston Patriot Award 2000

▪ Mayor, New York City, Community Service Citation 1999

Master Sergeant Chester L. Marcus, Jr.

Major Journalism and Military Awards:

▪2006 Army Reserve, First Place - Field News Paper

▪2005 Honorable Mention for Boy Scout Jamboree Army publication

▪ 2002 Army Reserve Magazine, 9/11 Edition Liberty Torch

▪ 1999 Army Reserve Magazine, Liberty Torch

▪ 1998 Army Funded Magazine, Annual Training Issue

▪ 1995 Haiti; Television News

▪ 1993 AP Hill Annual Training, Field News Paper

▪ First Place Army, Keith L. Ware Awards

Military Awards:

▪Meritorious Service Medal 1993/2006

▪Army Commendation Medal (3 oak leaf) 1991/1993/1994/1995

▪ Army Achievement Medal (2 oak leaf) 1986/1989/1993

▪ Good Conduct Medal 1995

▪ Army Reserve Achievement Medal 1991/1994/1997/2000/2004

▪ National Defense Service Medal 1991/2001

▪ South West Asian Campaign Medal (3 bronze stars) 1991

▪ Humanitarian Service Medal 1994

▪ Volunteer Service Ribbon 1996

▪ Army Reserve Mobilization Ribbon 1995

▪ Non-Commissioned Officer Training Ribbon (3) 1990/1994/1995

▪ Army Service Ribbon 1985

▪ Overseas Tour Ribbon 1987

▪ Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon 1993/1994/2006

▪ Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) 1991

▪ Kuwait Medal (Kuwait) 1991

▪ Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon 1991

▪ Valorous Unit Citation Ribbon 2002

Associations:

▪27 year member Local 802 Musicians Union. Union Contractor for live and pre-recorded music.

▪30-year, member of the NY Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, served on the Board of Directors, 5 years.

▪7 year member National Association of Recording Artists.

▪5 year member Southwest Asia Veterans of Greater New York. Executive Director.

▪4 year member 77 Infantry Division, Reserve Officers Association. Elected Board of Directors 2008.

▪Lifetime member VFW.