Obituaries

Richard M. Marcks

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 7th, 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.

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Sending up thoughts and prayers for the entire family.  I know Richard will be deeply missed.

With much love,
Gaye Coffman and Ian, Rebecca and Carter Williamson

Sunday morning, Union Club, Boston, while traveling…just received this news…

This is the message I just sent to my siblings:
    "Very sad. I remember him as the Saul’s pool house teaching Jeff and me how to a do military routines with a rifle.

     Great guy, always positive, multilingual, brilliant, a real loss."

I have not seen Mr. Marcks in about 34 years, but time does not matter. As a teenager he was bigger than life to a kid: how did he know how to speak all those languages? Do routines with a rifle? Be always positive? And I do remember him getting into silly fixes, or hearing of them, which I can relate to. When the family moved to Hershey I was at the Marcks’ home often; he seemed to always be traveling; his office was very impressive to me.

He was one of those men who, notably for his personality and positive outlook,  has, and always will, have an in influence on me.

Please accept my sincerest sympathies.
Ken Rawley

Hello Chantal, Nicole and Elenor,

My sincere condolences regarding your Dad/ex-husband.  I knew Mr. Marcks starting when I was a little boy in Rose Valley,PA and he lived in the liitle house by the pool on the Saul Estate.  He had African shields and spears hanging on the wall. My Dad (John Rawley) borrowed his Jag to take me to Camp Carson when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade (1962 or 1963).  I saw him occasionally when he lived in Hershey. 
When my brother Ken and I talked about him, the phrase that always came up was: "He’s a great guy." And he was.

May your sorrow be assuaged by the memories of the good times.

Best regards,

Jeff Rawley
jeffrawley@yahoo.com

Nicole and Family:

What an incredible man and an incredible life lived. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.

Pippa

It is with a heavy heart and sadness that I offer my sincere condolences.  Richard was such a wonderful person full of love for his family, friends and
all mankind.  He was a man of great intelligence, integrity and generosity.
His presence will be greatly missed but I look forward to the day when I meet
him again in a "better place". 

I apologize for not attending the service on Friday, October 7.  I very recently had open heart surgery and cannot travel for a while.  I am also very weak but am working on becoming stronger. 

Again, Linda and family, I offer my humble, heartfelt sympathy. 

Love,
Judith L. Willow

Temos compartido juntos com Richard muitas horas de felicidade e não pocas de incertidão.Viajamos juntos por quatro continentes,compartimos livros,músicas e amigos. Tudo o vivido com ele tem sido para nos um premio extraordinario.A falta fisica de Richard não poderá opacar a milagrosa presencia de um tempo que será sempre presente.

Romano Capasso e familia.

Dear Chantal,
Many years ago, Dick offered me his friendship, his enthusiasm and professed his, already, keen desire to be a professional citizen of the world. At that time, I was a young Belgian trainee with Scott Paper Co. When Dick was sent to Belgium, I gave him the address of my brother and they become good friends. But so is life, I never met Dick again. Bless his soul.
Warm regards to all in your family,

Michael de Cooman

Dear Nicole and Family,

I am so sorry for your loss, your Father was an amazing man by reading his story, how lucky you were to have such a smart and very knowledgeable Father for 80 years.  I will pray for your Family.

Love,
Bertha Everett

Please accept our deepest sympathy in your loss.  He was such a thoughtful and caring person, he will be deeply missed.

Sincerely,
Bruce and Paulette Vannatta

Linda and Chantal, Carol and I were very sorry to learn of your loss.  Dick was a truly amazing man and we know you will miss him.  During the time I knew and worked with him, he never failed to impress everyone around him with his energy, enthusiasm, insights and joie de vivre.  His refusal to let any adversity stand in the way of moving forward will live on in our memories. May God bless you both. 
Burt and Carol Snyder

Richard has been an extraordinary man: intelligent, well educated, tender, loving, caring, knowledgeable and a world citizen.
He was a true gentleman.
I will keep a very special memory of him.
My condolences to his family, his wife Linda and his daughter Cathy.
Hermann Heise

I knew Richard from Highland Church and the Universal Athletic Club. He was always enthusiastic and liked to share short stories with me. He loved his Silver Porsche but he especially loved his family. He will be missed.
Paul B. Murray

I am sorry for your loss.  Richard was a man of great character, tremendous generosity and focused leadership.  His contributions will live on in the lives he touched.  It was an honor to be in a part of his life.

Patrick Doran

Dear Chantal, Nicole and Mum,
so sorry for your loss. 
Lots of love to you in your time of grief.
Nancy

Baron and Baroness de Cooman d’Herlinckhove (Brussels, Belgium)
present their condolences to the Marcks family.

Linda and family –
Karen and I were saddened to learn of Dick’s passing. Bill Christ called us while we were in Utah and are sorry we were not able to attend the memorial service. I remember fondly the time I was able to work with and for Dick, and the many trips we took. Yes, I could tell some stories about our travels and remembered many of them after speaking with Bill. I wish I could have heard some of them being told. You and your family are in our prayers and thoughts and we thank you for being our friends.
Marty and Karen Gluntz

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