New College Mourns Passing of Dr. Richard Marcus

New College of Florida mourns the passing of Dr. Richard Marcus, who died January 30, 2009 at age 92. For the past 16 years, Dr. Marcus organized the New College Library Association’s annual Colloquium symposium where participants studied and discussed such topics as Puritanism in the United States, what constitutes a “just” war and the relationship between science and religion.

A retired ear, nose and throat doctor from Illinois, Marcus and his wife, Francelle, became part-time residents of Sarasota in the 1970s. Marcus co-founded a club for intellectuals in Sarasota in the 1980s and organized local seminars to explore divisive issues such as euthanasia and stem cell research.

Marcus received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Wisconsin and served stateside in the Air Forces during World War II before establishing his medical practice in otolaryngology in Skokie, Ill., and nearby Winnetka. He was a member of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, taught at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and helped establish the American Neurotology Society to share information on hearing and equilibrium disorders and promote research .

Marcus is survived by two daughters, Carlyn Ekstrom of Watertown, Mass., and Elizabeth Russell of St. Louis; a son, Richard M. of Los Angeles; a sister, Dulcy Wilets of Salt Lake City; and five grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the New College Library Association, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243-2109.