Appreciation: Edith Marks

SALISBURY — We are writing to celebrate the life of Edith Marks who died Oct. 31, 2010.

Edith and Stuart Marks became part-time residents of Salisbury in 1975 and full-time residents in 1992. Because Stuart was an international lawyer, they had lived in several European countries and traveled extensively in others.

In Salisbury, Edith made many friends to whom she was always ready to give assistance and helpful advice. She had a wonderful mind and enjoyed taking part in intelligent, provocative conversation. Her home was always open to friends, from far and near, who were traveling and passing through our area.

She was active in many organizations here, including the local Democratic Club, the Jewish Community Group and as a board member of Salisbury Family Services.

As the embodiment of the admirable 19th-century women who hosted salons in their homes peopled by artists and writers and intellectuals, she inaugurated and hosted a wonderful annual series of lectures in her home and founded and ran an annual Jewish film festival held at The Hotchkiss School.

Prior to moving to Salisbury, Edith and Stuart lived in New York, where she was the associate producer of a health-related television series for Channel 13. Later, she helped to create the Post Treatment Cancer Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where she continued to work for many years.

She is, and will continue to be, missed by all who loved her and whose lives were enriched by her generous and noble spirit.

— Renee and Bob Blank, Lakeville

SALISBURY — Edith Marks was a truly remarkable person who was devoted to every community she lived in as well as the work she chose to pursue. She was regarded by many as an extraordinary woman of limitless capacity and energy for those she touched.

Her professional life began as a television producer for Channel 13, where her work focused on health issues and services — an important theme that would become a constant throughout her life.

Edith was a breast cancer survivor. As a consequence of this life-altering event (or perhaps it was just pure Edith Marks), she became an activist for others with cancer seeking support and information.

She first came to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as a volunteer, working alongside professionals highly centered on improving the psychological and social care of patients with cancer.

As an enthusiastic supporter of all patient-related endeavors, she soon became a welcomed member on research projects that addressed providing more compassionate care and ways to empower patients with information.

She was a pioneer for patient advocacy, creating innovative programs for patient rights and education about illness, treatment and recovery expectations.

This was a commitment she continued after moving to Salisbury despite the long drive. In more recent years, she helped develop a psychotherapeutic intervention for older patients coping with cancer that is still used today. She took this assignment with her usual grace and industry and developed a resource list of movies and books about elders that remains an integral part of Scoville Memorial’s resource library.

But Edith Marks was so much more. She was a mother of three and a loving grandmother. She was a cherished friend with a ready ear to listen empathetically.She was modest, self-effacing  and highly intelligent. She was a voracious reader on many subjects and treasured the Scoville Memorial Library. When she could no longer go herself, Stuart or friends would pick up all her reading requests.

She loved to entertain and had house guests for extended stays. Many of us will cherish the memory of countless New Year’s Eves, when Edith and Stuart gave a dinner party following concerts with Rita Welch’s scrumptious boeuf bourguignon and apple pie. They also hosted memorable lectures and book groups in their home.

Edith was a perfectionist and well-known for creating endless lists. She loved anemones, fine things and the notion of travel almost anywhere. She was active in democratic causes.

While Stuart was the obvious man in her life, there were caring others. Peter Barron remained a devoted caregiver and friend who lovingly maintained the Marks’ home on Ravine Ridge Road. Another important member of the support team was Ray McCarthy, who drove Edith to all her doctor’s appointments, to Boston for visits with children and grandchildren and to do marketing when Stuart could no longer drive.

As her colleague Jimmie C. Holland, MD, Wayne E. Chapman Chair in Psychiatric Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, elegantly expressed, “Edith was vitally engaged with the world as a whole....She cared about people in a special way.� Those of us who knew her have been blessed in countless ways.

In a special tribute, the Jewish Group of the Northwest Corner has named our lecture series The Stuart and Edith Marks Lecture Series.

 There will be a celebration of Edith’s life on Sunday, Nov. 28, at Noble Horizons at 1 p.m. Memorial donations may be sent to the Counseling Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

­— Lynne Bragonier and Ilene Tetenbaum, Salisbury

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