Marjorie was compassionate, smart, witty and oh yes, very funny. Laughing with Marge was easy. She was a kindhearted and active listener in sharing life’s joys and sorrows. From Glen Ridge Middle School years through our adult lives, I always enjoyed spending time with her. There are so many wonderful memories. Early on in our Glen Ridge education, it became quickly apparent that she was the smartest person in the room – and yet she conducted herself with such quiet humility. During our library sessions in High School, she would patiently encourage me as I struggled through French… which had swiftly become her second language (or was it her fourth or fifth?). Granted, we spent most of the time laughing – about anything and everything – but her encouragement remained steadfast. Years later, she would provide the same “You can do it!” encouragement for my son, Brady. Following college graduation with an English degree, he contacted Marjorie for advice as a young writer starting out in the world. Ever generous, Marge reached out and provided sage advice. I particularly liked her words about persistence and hard work: “For me the moral of the story was: Get experience writing. Don't worry too much if your first job or two are not your dream job. You will learn a lot and you will move on. Experience is the thing you need the most in the beginning. Go anywhere that they will let you write. Learn to write on deadline. Learn how it feels to get published. And learn how it feels to make your money as a writer. These are all good lessons.” Once again, I was so grateful for her thoughtfulness and time given to others. When Marjorie left her beloved NYC and moved north to Boston (carrying her Yankee pinstripes), we were able to reconnected more frequently over the years. The last lunch we shared was in Newburyport. Over eggplant parmesan sandwiches, she recalled in great detail how a weekend with my family (decades ago) changed her life – by introducing her to the delight of the eggplant sandwich. We shared stories about our families, friends, work and travels. Most of all, I remember thinking how wonderful it was to see Marjorie so happily married to the love of her life, John. The happiness they shared colored all of her stories – and I remember thinking that this big-hearted person truly deserved such a love. While I am so saddened by the loss of this wonderful person, I am also reminded how Marjorie touched so many lives and made this world a better place. I will miss her. Dea