Marjorie P Duberstein

Marjorie Dee Parman was born on October 24, 1944, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Dr. Jacob and Mrs. Florence Parman. As a kid, she loved animals, science and summers with her sister, Gale, and numerous first cousins at her Aunt Bea’s cottage near Pittsburgh. She graduated from Manheim Township High School in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and attended the Drexel Institute of Technology en route to becoming a histologist. She completed her training at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lancaster, where she formally began her five-decade career in medical research.

In the mid-1960s, Margie moved to Maryland, where she eventually worked for over 30 years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As part of the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology at NIH, she helped find treatments for cancer. Her line of work was indicative of the type of human she was – an empath looking to help others stay well after watching her father succumb to cancer.

Throughout her life, her greatest loves were her daughter Jennifer, her grandson Zachary and her family and friends.

Margie devoted her life to being Jennifer’s mom. Margie’s marriage ended shortly after Jennifer’s birth, and she succeeded as a single mom when divorce was not a norm. She was a role model for her daughter in how she juggled all of her responsibilities yet still had time to be the most dedicated parent. When Jennifer was young, Margie tucked Jennifer in every night and shuttled her to her many sports games, always cheering from the sidelines. The two vacationed on sunny beaches, laughed uncontrollably often and, most importantly, cared for each other unconditionally. In her words, she and Jennifer were lucky to have each other and had a wonderful life despite their family’s circumstances.

Margie also adored being Zachary’s “Gaga” and her son-in-law Michael’s “Sam”. She most recently lived ten blocks away in New York City, where she could see the three of them regularly to snack on chocolate cake and donuts and to attend Zachary’s baseball games, where she was able to cheer on Zachary just as she had supported Jennifer decades before.

Margie’s family meant the world to her – especially her sister and her family with whom she spent almost every holiday over her lifetime. She loved her nephews, Evan and Mark, as sons and took pleasure in watching them grow up and being part of their lives.

In her final years, Parkinson’s Disease limited her ability to partake in many of the pastimes she enjoyed – bobbing in crystal clear beaches, sleeping late, making chocolate chip cookies, going for walks and gabbing on the phone with her many friends. She exhibited daily courage in living with the disease for over 16 years.

In her final days, she told Jennifer that she had lived a wonderful 81 years.

Margie will be missed and loved eternally by her daughter Jennifer Duberstein (Michael Rosenblum); grandson Zachary; nephews Evan Klupt (Dr. Amy Bass) and Mark Klupt (Caitlin Herlihy); and many cousins and lifelong friends. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Gale Mary Klupt.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, via the following link: http://tribute.michaeljfox.org/tribute-page.php?id=3550&np=true.