Charles F Snyder Funeral Home - Obituaries and Tributes

Richard Maynard Marcks of Lancaster died Friday September 30th at the age of 80. He fought a valiant and courageous battle with grace, dignity, humor and an incurable optimism that was contagious. He was a devoted Husband and Father who in his retirement, found great satisfaction and comfort in mentoring and advising younger generations to achieve better educational and career opportunities for themselves. He was the son of Dr. Kerwin Marcks of Allentown, an internationally known plastic surgeon and his wife, Mona, nee Vannata.

Mr. Marcks was an international marketing executive who had worked and lived in Europe with Scott Paper Company, Carnation International, and Nestle. He also served Nestle in Japan as Vice President, Marketing. In 1976, he became Vice President, International, for Hershey Foods. Subsequently, Richard was named President and CEO of Hershey International and served in that capacity for 13 years.

Richard enjoyed working for large multi-branded and multi-country businesses. He was pleased to contribute to the economic developments of the countries in which he was operating, create numerous employment opportunities, and improve the sales and profitability of operations. He derived great satisfaction from developing numerous businesses in Asia, Europe, and Latin America through exports, licensing, and joint equity ventures.

At Nestle headquarters in Vevey Switzerland, he was the Group Product Manager. During that time frame, his coffee products group developed the campaign and marketing programs to sell successfully DECAF coffee worldwide.

In 1996, The Educational Foundation of Sigma Nu Fraternity asked Richard to design, develop, fund, and implement an ethical leadership program for new initiates. This program, called LEAD for Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, and Development, is now taught to young men who join Sigma Nu Fraternity at more than 200 college locations. He appreciated this opportunity to influence the ethical leadership skills of many of our country's future leaders.

Mr. Marcks received his BA from UVA in 1953, his JD from Pennsylvania Law School in 1959, and his PhD from the University of Southern Utah in 1989. He spoke fluent German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese. Ironically, he always said his English was tainted by his Pennsylvania-Dutch pronunciation. Mr. Marcks also served on active duty as a Naval Officer during the Korean conflict.

Richard was a serious man who inevitably found himself in a variety of funny circumstances. Including getting on the wrong plane and not realizing it until he landed, and driving hours over back roads as one of his infamous ‘short cuts’. Richard was an avid skier, wine connoisseur, Rotary member piano player and a proud Eagle Scout. He put himself through college by playing a Jazz trumpet in a band. Throughout his life, he was passionate about the pursuit of knowledge, and conducted his life with hard work and integrity. Friends and family appreciated him as a colorful character.

He is survived by his loving family and wife, Linda; his daughter Catherine; his daughter Nicole and her husband Tom Shannon, and his granddaughter Simone Olivia; and daughter Chantal and her husband Raphael Tapioca. Friends will be received from 5 to 6PM on Friday October 7^th, 2011 at the Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 East Roseville Road Lancaster PA 17601, followed immediately by a service at 6PM. A private burial will occur on Saturday morning. In lieu of flowers, Richard asks you make a charitable contribution to the Boy Scouts of America, Box 152079, Irving, TX, 75015-2079 or the Manheim Twp. Public Library, 595 Granite Run Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601. To send an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 560-5100.

Family and friends will truly miss this wonderful man’s enthusiasm for life and wish him well on his next assignment with the Lord.