Joanie Marcus was described by friends and colleagues as a very “up” person who loved life. Sadly, hers was cut short when she died Feb. 6 of complications following back surgery at the age of 62.
“She was one of the most ‘up’ people I knew,” said Betsy Green, longtime friend and fellow federation leader. “She loved life, loved to party and made everyone feel that they were her special friend.”
The River Hills resident and lifelong Milwaukeean was involved in various aspects of the local community. She volunteered as a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum from 1972-86, was a member of its Contemporary Art Society and was elected to its board of trustees in 1998.
She was also active in the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, having served as president and campaign chair of its Women’s Division.
According to Evy Garfinkel, director of the Women’s Division, “Under her guidance as campaign chair, in 1990-91, the women’s division raised $2 million for the first time. It was quite a fete. And, when she was president in 1994-95, we traveled together to Israel on the Directors/Chairs Mission. I was very moved by her sensitivity toward the newly arriving Ethiopian children. She loved the children and shot hundreds of pictures.”
In the 1990s, Marcus traveled to Moscow to help a group of Jews emigrate to Israel and later assisted with the resettlement of Ethiopian Jews.
Betty Lieberman, director of planning and strategic services for the federation, called her “a quiet perfectionist.” She said, “She fully put herself into whatever responsibility she took on. She had a long history with the Jewish community and the federation.
She came up through the ranks from the Young Women’s Committee to being president of the women’s division. “Also, she was supportive of the concept and active in the planning of the Karl Jewish Community Campus because she felt it is important for the community to have a place to be together.”
Marcus also served on the board of the Jewish Community Foundation, the federation’s endowment development program. Executive director Bert Bilsky said, “Joanie felt a great attachment to the Milwaukee community and supported planning to ensure its future.”
The daughter of the late Babette (Bobbie) and Marvin Glasspiegel, she graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She met her future husband, Stephen Marcus, at a wedding and they went dancing after the reception. He is the chairman and CEO of the Marcus Corp.
According to her son, Greg Marcus, “She was involved in many things on her own, but she also participated in many corporate events and partnered with my dad in making community-wide decisions, such as the Marcus Amphitheater and the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.”
In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons Greg (Linda) Marcus of Fox Point, David (Melina) Marcus of Hollywood, Fla., and Andrew (Jill) Marcus of Chicago; sister Nancy (Simon) Bresler of Beverly Hills, Calif.; and five grandchildren.
Rabbis Marc Berkson and Marc Belgrad officiated at the funeral on Feb. 9. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorials to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation or the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Loading ...