Robert Allen Marcus

Robert Allen Marcus, aka Bob, Papasan, Pop, RAMBO, Uncle Bob, Bobby, Gramps and Grampy, passed away peacefully two days after his 90th birthday on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Sarasota, FL after a three-month illness.

Bob was born in Beth Israel Hospital in New York City on November 5, 1936. He lived most of his early childhood in Laurelton and Forest Hills, Queens, sharing a bedroom with his Ukrainian grandmother, Rebecca Edelman. His parents, Louis and Jean were also immigrants from Ukraine and Bob’s first language was Yiddish, giving Bob a lifelong lesson in foreign languages, he spoke seven and was teaching himself Japanese.

His parents moved to Parkchester in the Bronx where he was a Bar Mitzvah on November 5, 1949, his actual 13th birthday. Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and served from 1956-1958 at Fort Ord in Monterey, CA.

Upon discharge, Bob stayed in Los Angeles to work and attend UCLA. He moved back to New York City in 1960.

Bob was a nationally recognized leader in the US staffing industry Associations, serving for decades of his life on panels and labor commissions. He was awarded the industry’s highest honor in 1984, with the Harold B. Nelson Award for his work with four US Presidents Labor Commissions and the EEOC. He was recognized as an “Expert Witness” and “Friend of the Court” in the U.S. Supreme Court. He taught at Baruch College and authored several books on Employment Agency Practices, as well as being an Advisor to the Better Business Bureau of New York City.

He was the first financial contributor and Advisor to his wife Peggy, in her dream to create the HBA- Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association in 1977.

His generosity was unmatched, as proven by his staff at his firms, with some spending 20-40 years working alongside him. He was a mentor, a coach, an advisor, investor and donor. He epitomized honesty, integrity and ethics.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Jean Marcus, his sister, Doris, his son David, as well as many childhood lifelong family and friends who have gone before and hopefully all were waiting for him with his Bombay Sapphire martini.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Peggy, his daughters, Lisa and Suzanne; granddaughters, Jessica, Michelle, Nicole (Paul Margraf), Jacquelyn and great grandchildren, Nathan, Sophia, Addison, Jackson, Emmett and Aria and a host of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cherished friends. He was adored by everyone who met him and his loss will be sorely felt.

Per his instructions, there will be no funeral or burial, just gatherings to celebrate this wonderful man.

In lieu of flowers, Peggy has requested donations to a newly created scholarship fund for Teachers in Bob’s memory.

Sarasota Rising Living Arts Festival

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