Morris Marks, whose boundless love for his family was returned in full, died Thursday, May 31, 2018 at 94. He was a proud South Philadelphian and first-generation American, the son of Nathan and Tillie Marks, from Kishinev, Moldova. He had four older brothers – Harry, Abe, Dan, and Jack – and his passing marks the end of a generation.
After graduating from South Philadelphia High School for Boys, Morris enlisted in the Army and served in the Signal Corps, repairing code machines. Celebrating V-E Day, he watched Gen. Charles de Gaulle march through Paris from a perch near the Arc de Triomphe. His father died when Morris was serving in Europe, and when he returned to the United States, he became a watch repairman to help support his mother. He spent the next four decades working on Philadelphia’s Jewelers Row.
He had a fantastic stroke of luck when, after moving to a new home in 1952, he found that one of his neighbors was a young teacher named Connie Seidler. Two years later, they were married. They moved to Northeast Philadelphia, where they raised two children, Marilyn and Ted.
After retirement, Morris and Connie moved to a senior-living community in Tamarac, Fla. Morris quickly became active in the community, serving as secretary of the condo board and as a member of the neighborhood-watch program, preventing crime during the hours of 1 to 4 on Sundays. He was the man people called when they needed a ride or when something had to be fixed.
Morris and Connie moved to Princeton in 2005. They celebrated 64 years of marriage April 11 and shared many blessings during their time together: summer vacations in Atlantic City and later in America’s national parks, Alaska, and Hawaii; traveling to Israel, England, and China, where Morris walked on the Great Wall at the age of 83; and especially spending time with their grandchildren. Nothing made Morris happier than hearing about what his grandchildren were learning and experiencing.
Until his last days, Morris was interested in the world around him, reading The New York Times and watching the news on television even though his eyesight had begun to fail. He always loved history, and he showed his command of that subject late in life by shouting out the answers to Jeopardy! questions, often outpacing the contestants. He voted in every election.
Morris is survived by his wife, Connie Seidler Marks; his children, Marilyn Marks Tal and Reli Tal of Princeton, N.J., and Ted and Ilene Marks of San Jose, Calif.; his grandchildren, Rinat Tal, Eliana Marks, and Zachary Marks; his sister-in law, Lois Seidler; his cousins, Albert Appel and Carrie Schoenbach; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held June 4. Burial was held at Princeton Cemetery. Arrangement by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Senior Care Services of NJ, P.O. Box 1517 Princeton, NJ, 08542-1517; the Princeton Senior Resource Center, 45 Stockton St, Princeton, NJ 08540; or a charity of the donor’s choice.