Obituaries

Zachary Paul Morfogen, 85

May 27, 2014

Zachary Paul Morfogen, 85, of Palm Beach, FL and resident of Willow Valley Retirement Community died Tuesday, May 27, 2014. He was the son of the late Paul & Anna (Landis) Morfogen.

Zachary was born in New York on September 29, 1928. He graduated from Boonton High School and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He went on to graduate from Brown University and received his Bachelor of Arts degree and was the recipient of the Brown Bear Award for outstanding service. Following Brown University he was a Sergeant Major in the US Army and a Veteran of the Korean War. He married his Boonton High School classmate, Marilyn in 1956 and had two children Ann and Paul. They lived for a short time in the Netherlands before settling down in Boonton and finally moving to Palm Beach Florida in 1998.

Zach Morfogen’s full and energetic career began as a promotion director of LIFE magazine; European manager of Time/LIFE books; managing director of Time Inc.’s Books and Arts Associates; and director of Time Inc.’s Corporate Cultural Affairs department. He was founding Chairman Emeritus of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Hospice Foundation, and a member of the board of directors of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. Morfogen received the William Rogers Award from Brown University honoring an alumnus whose professional work and service to humanity exemplifies the charge of the Brown University Charter to its students to live a life of “usefulness and reputation.” Upon retiring from Time in 1987, he and his wife, Marilyn, formed Morfogen Associates, a consulting company for corporations and cultural institutions and launched “News” a newsletter of arts events worldwide.

Zach was also an accomplished painter and playwright. His latest book, Dealing with Death Free From Fear was published this month. He embraced life with the following words: care, appreciate, expand, reach, and celebrate.

He is survived by his two children, Ann M., wife of George S. Weaver III, of Lancaster, PA, and Paul A. Morfogen, husband of Megan, of Boonton Township, NJ. seven grandchildren, Cary, Cullen, Helen, George IV, Zachary, Augustus, and Matthew, and two great grandchildren, Jack and Freddie. He is also survived by one sister, Vivian Geaneas Morfogen, of Denville, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 910 Birch Street, Boonton, NJ 07005 at 10AM. A viewing will be held the morning of Mass from 8:30-9:30AM at Dangler, Lewis & Carey Funeral Home 312 W. Main St. Boonton, NJ 07005. A viewing will also be held on Friday, May 30 at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 441 N. George St. Millersville, PA 17551 from 4-6PM. Interment will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Boonton, NJ.

Additionally a Memorial Service will be held in honor of his Greek heritage 40 days following the burial at the Century Club in New York. Details in development. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to The National Hospice Foundation, 1731 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 or The Roosevelt Institute, 570 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10022.

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Condolences to the Family

June 04, 2014

Dear Anne, Paul and families,
It’s been forever since we were kids in Holland and our parents (younger than we are now!) became lifelong friends. Zach and Marilyn were such wonderful and accomplished people, I thought they were just about the most glamorous and worldly couple ever! And yet, they were gentle and totally accessible, warm and caring, quick to smile and loathe to judge, with a love for life that was palpable. How lucky we are to have had them in our lives.
We are so sorry for your loss. 
The Lubin kids and our families 
 
 

June 02, 2014

I was truly shocked to learn of Zach’s demise.  I spoke to him on the telephone at about 4:00PM on Tuesday, making plans to meet in NY in about two weeks.  Donald, my husband and Zach’s college roommate passed away in January and Zach has been very supportive and caring. He and Marilyn were good and loving friends. I am grateful that like Donald he went quickly and without suffering. I send my most sincere condolences to the Weaver and Morfogen families.
Carole Aronson

June 01, 2014

Dear Anne, Paul and your families:
I am so sorry to hear about Zach’s passing.  I really loved him and your Mom.  They were always so good to me.  They hired me for one of my first jobs, back in 1988 I think, as an assistant with Morfogen Associates (and some pool cleaning on the side:).  Your mom would make me lunch with fresh Italian bread from the bakery on Rt. 46.  Delicious.  I enjoyed some exhibit openings in NYC as a job perk.  What fun it always was to see Zach and Marilyn  for a drink at thier  LBI house, decorated with modern whimsical flair!  Your family and the Brennans introduced us to LBI, a special place for the Dixons over the past 35 years or so.  I am sending loving prayers to you as you cope with this sad time.  With love,  Carrie Dixon Robinson

May 30, 2014

Anne & Paul,
Please accept my sincere condolences. He was a great man.  Many fond memories of our travels during our Time Inc days..and our last dinner @ the Century Club over a year ago.
My prayers are with you all.
 
Sincerely,
Dave Walsh

May 30, 2014

It is with profound sadness I write this. Zach was truly a very special person in the life of my dad . zach called him religiously everyday and my dad cherished him as a close friend and confidant. He will miss his daily martini hour with him and the loss is devastating…,Ann and Paul enjoy the beautiful memories u have of him and he is now with the love of his life marilyn . what a beautiful friend . Lori Kantrowitz ludmer 

May 30, 2014

How can we put into words the loss felt with the sad news of Zack’s passing. He was a wonderful friend to our entire family.  Zack was so full of life and enthusiasm.  He found joy in everything and lived life to the fullest.  We are so fortunate to have been friends for so many years.  From our first meeting in Jamaca, when Zack and Marilyn were on their honeymoon, to are many fun times in New Jersey and Florida.  All of these memories will keep Zack alive in our hearts.  Our sympathy to your family along with our love and prayers.
Eileen Zigarelli and family

May 30, 2014

I was fortunate to get to know Zach in my job at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.  His passion for increasing awareness of hospice was one of the things that most stands out in my mind.  I admired the ways he encouraged the hospice and palliative care community to use the arts as an important tool for sharing all that hospice offers to those at life’s end. It was after I read his book “You Gotta Have Art” that I was able to learn much more about his vast accomplishments. My condolances to his family and friends.
Jon RadulovicNHPCOAlexandria, Virginia

May 29, 2014

We send our love and condolences to Ann and Paul and their wonderful families. Zach’s love of life and great spirit continues in the lives of his descendants. His two great grandchildren, Jack and Freddie, epitomize the Morfogen character and will carry the torch and hold it high in honor of Zach and Marilyn. We have the Morfogen and Weaver families in our prayers.
Hildy and Jack Wold

May 29, 2014

I can’t imagine life at The Cove without Zach.  He and Marilyn were my first friends when I arrived 10 years ago and over the years we enjoyed some lovely evenings together and many concerts at The Four Arts. Zach had great spirit and enthusiasm for the arts and for helping others. He was a charming and loving friend and I will miss him Very much. My thoughts are with you all. 
Ellen Bernstein 
Williamstown and Palm Beach
 
 

May 29, 2014

Dear Morfogen Family,
My husband, Kenneth, and I send to each of youi our condolences on the passing of your father, grandfather and great-grandfather. We met Zach and Marily 10 years ago when we purchased a condo at The Cover to escape the cold winters of New Jersey. Zach and Marilyn became our friends and we cherished the time we spent with them at Fellowship luncheons and other Palm Beach events. Marilyn was truly an angel on earth and Zach was the consummate gentleman. He was so kind and caring to all. His love of life was always evident. He rejoiced in all family gatherings where he could be with his loved ones. His passion for art was also a great interest he shared. We will always remember Zachary Morfogen as a stellar person. He is now with his beloved Marilyn forever and that means he is at peace.
Do remember all of the good times and his many contributions to a vast number of people who were privileged to know and love him. Your grief may be lightened if you can focus on the happy times and special mombers he brought to each of you.
With deepest sympathy,
Dr. Marie R. Simone

May 29, 2014

So very, very sorry to hear of the passing of Zach. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his family last year, when he kindly donated the “Yellow Bird” print to Hospice & Community Care, on display at our Inpatient Center. My thoughts and prayers are with all. Fiona Clarkin, Hospice & Community Care.

May 29, 2014

Zach was my best friend all through high school, and he also stood up with us when we got married 63 years ago. He was truly a caring and
wonderful friend, and although we did not see each other often throughout the years, we did keep in touch, and I cherish the memories of
the times we did get to spend together. Zach also had a great sense of humor, and there was always a lot of laughter at any gathering that
included him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, not only for his large accomplishments but for the small touches as well.
Bob Toppman (and wife Lea)
 May 29,2014
 

May 29, 2014

We are saddened to learn of the loss of Zach.  We were neighbors on the 4th floor north at the Cove and found him a delightful neighbor and a wonderful person. We offer our sincere condolences to his family – they have lost a very special member who will be lovingly remembered by us all
Sonja and Bernard Lind

May 29, 2014

Your passion, your light, your love…the grace, humanity and elegance you brought to the world…all will be missed…however, it is with joy I recognize your legacy is the embodiment of your spirit which lives on, for that I am eternally grateful. I hope you knew the impact you had on our lives…
Stephanie Morfogen

May 29, 2014

I was a high school friend of Zach’s, and a fellow artist and poet.  We kept in touch through the years although we lived on opposite coasts. Zach was a marvelous combination of dynamism and gentle kindness.  H will leave a large hole in all of our hearts.  My deepest sympathy to his family. Joan Hudack Hauck

May 28, 2014

My family and I would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the Morfogen Family. We all were so very fond of both Marilyn and Zach and shared many happy hours together.
 
Audrey Harris Hilliard, Dean and Marcia Harris, Alison Harris and Wes Bowden.

May 28, 2014

Paul,
I remeber meeting you in Boonton. You were in a picture I took along with the picture of the cow and your folkes. I will miss Zack very much. He was a gracious and good friend. I am sorry that I have not seen him in a few years, being tied down with things in Texas. Next week i will say a Mass for Zack and your family. Your parents were clearly very good Catholics and if I am not mistaken you were sent to High School with the Benedictine monks. I graduated from Saint Benedict’s in 1951.
Well I know you and you sister and your children will miss your father as you have already missed your good mother. They have done a lot for the world and helped people of importance see the message of proper care for the terminally ill.
 
Father (monsignor now) Bill Manger

May 28, 2014

Our thoughts and prayers are with Zach’s family during this difficult time. Thank you Zach for all you did for the hospice community in the US. We are most grateful. John Mastrojohn, Executive Director, National Hospice Foundation.

Visitation
Saturday, May 31, 2014
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Dangler, Lewis & Carey Funeral Home
312 W. Main St
Boonton, NJ 07005
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Visitation
Friday, May 30, 2014
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory
441 North George Street
Millersville, PA 17551
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Services
Saturday, May 31, 2014
10:00 AM
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
910 Birch Street
Boonton, NJ 07005
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