Stanley Edward Marcus, a prominent and much admired Berkshire artist, died peacefully at his Becket home on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. Stanley was born on Nov. 17, 1926, and raised in New York City. After graduating from the Columbia Grammar School in 1944, he began his university education at New York University. His studies were interrupted by his Army service from 1946–47. He returned to NYU to complete his studies and graduated with a degree in history in 1949. After graduation, Stanley and his father, Joseph, started Howard Textiles, which they grew into a successful textile company in New York City. He married Rebecca Seiff in 1952, and together they had two children, Lynne and Joel. In 1968 Stanley sold the business to pursue his lifelong passion for art. He enrolled at Columbia University Teacher’s College, where he earned a doctorate in education in 1972, launching his career in art education. His scholarly work about the artist David Smith was published by Cornell University Press in 1983. The book, “David Smith: The Sculptor and His Work,” traces the career of the artist and his influence on the use of welded steel as an art form, which Stanley explored in his own work as a sculptor. He took a post at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, where he worked as chairman of the department of art until he retired in 1992. Stanley and Rebecca moved to Becket, Massachusetts, where he devoted himself to his work as an artist full time. He worked tirelessly in his studio creating sculptures made from welded and cast aluminum, often incorporating ceramics, glass and musical instruments into his pieces. His work can be found in galleries around the country as well as in private collections. Stanley lived his life fully until just before his death, celebrating his 90th birthday with friends and family, working in his studio and watching his favorite team, the New York Giants, beat the Redskins just one week before he died.
Stanley is survived by his beloved wife, Rebecca Marcus; his daughter and son-in-law, Lynne and Jeff Crespy; his son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Carol Marcus; his grandson Matthew Crespy, and his wife, Heather; and his grandson Jonathan Crespy and his fianceé, Lindsay.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at 10 a.m. at Ahavath Sholom Cemetery on Blue Hill Road in Great Barrington. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, c/o Birches-Roy Funeral Home, 33 South Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Condolence may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
