Stanley J. Marcus, Jewish World War II Veteran and Holocaust Liberator, formerly of Rutherford, Teaneck, Old Tappan, and Farmingdale, NJ, died peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 94 in his home in Easton, PA.

Stanley was born May 4, 1926 in Jersey City, NJ to Robert and Bessie Marcus. Stanley grew up humbly above his parents' jewelry store in Rutherford, NJ before attending college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA. On his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the US Army as a Sergeant and was sent overseas to Central Europe. On May 5, 1945, one day after his 19th birthday, Stanley, as part of the 65th Infantry Division, helped liberate Mauthausen Concentration Camp. As a decorated war Veteran, Stanley's many awards included a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, French Legion of Honor, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal and Good Conduct Medal .

Upon returning from service, Stanley attended Rutgers University briefly as a writing major, but soon fell into the family business, Marcus Jewelers. It was then that he met his first love, Rita Greenfield, with whom he shared two children and thirty years of marriage. Together, they traveled the world as he grew the family business. After Rita's untimely passing, Stanley met and married his second love, Pamela Erbeck, with whom he shared four more children and the rest of his life.

His career was nothing short of impressive, with a work history that spanned roles as President of Marcron, Inc., Licensed Insurance Producer, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Chairman of Freeman Jewelers in Rutland, VT, Director of the Ramapo College Foundation (the college, from which, he received an honorary doctorate in 1985), Director of the CEO Board for the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Senior Council of the Gemological Institute of America, Director/Chairman of the Jewelers' Security Alliance, Regional Director of the Bank of New York, Director of the Jewelry Industry Council, President of Vivatech, Inc., and, most notably, President/C.E.O. of Marcus Company, a chain of 13 jewelry stores, which sold to Sears Holding Co., U.K. in 1979 .

Aside from his life as an entrepreneur, Stanley was also extraordinarily generous. A selected list of his philanthropic efforts and affiliations included assisting in the construction of the WWII Memorial in Washington DC as well as the Holocaust Center at Ramapo College of NJ. He funded the William Carlos Williams Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall, belonging to the nonprofit performing arts and cinema complex located in downtown Rutherford, NJ. In 1980, he received a 30th anniversary medal from State of Israel Bonds in recognition of his boundless devotion to the people of Israel and his continuing effort to build a strong economy and lasting peace. He regularly contributed to the World Jewish Congress Foundation and, along with his wife Pamela, began the Gene Chad Coppa Memorial Endowment Fund for Eye Research in 2003. He was a proud member of the Rutherford Elk's Club, 24 Karat Club of the City of New York, the Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group, and the Foundation for Free Enterprise . In April 2020, Stanley was featured on the viral photoblog Humans of New York where millions of followers viewed, shared and lauded his efforts as a war hero across social media platforms.

Stanley was most proud of his family and loved spending time reading to his young grandchildren. He loved storytelling, bad jokes, the Sunday Times , war movies and Judge Judy. Above all, he loved creating memories - making unique experiences out of every adventure.

Stanley is survived by his wife of 37 years, Pamela, and children Ronald and Kristi Marcus of Manchester, VT, Kriste Marcus of Baltimore, MD, Loren Marcus and Ersin Borluca of Easton, PA, Auri Marcus and Dave Gerardu of Miami, FL, and six grandchildren: Haley, Robin, and Sarah, Nicholas, Kayleigh and Ashleigh. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rita, daughter, Roberta Weiland, son, Gene C. Coppa, and sister, Gloria Silber.

A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held at 1:00PM Thursday, November 19, 2020 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Morello Funeral Home, Inc., 3720 Nicholas Street, Easton, PA (Palmer Twp).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, or the Gene Chad Coppa Memorial Endowment Fund via website - "Add to Existing Endowment" or by phone: 908-731-6610.