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In loving memory of my grandfather
MARCUS, ARTHUR M., 80, Pembroke Pines passed away Thurs. March 13, 2008. Beloved husband of the late Rhoda, a loving father of Michael, Jonathan (Diane) and the late Benjamin, a cherished grandfather of Benjamin, Brett, Noah and Nikki and a devoted brother of Risa Katz. A long time and active member of Temple Solel of Hollywood and Temple Sinai of Hollywood. Before moving to Florida in 1973 he was the Owner / President of the West Hoboken Plumbing Supply in Union City, NJ then after moving to Florida, Arthur served as the Executive Director State of Israel Bonds for South Florida for over 20 years.
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Just as my grandmother was the matriarch of my family, my grandfather, Arthur was the patriarch. though certain members of my family would dispute this. Yes, he was very needy of attention, yes he wasn't the absolute best person to go to for advice, but even still, he was my grandfather, and I loved him, I still do.
His entire life was devoted to the following things, Israel, his wife ((My late grandmother)), his grand children and his children, in that order. My father put it in the right words I think, those were his great loves, in that order. He spent 20 years of his life working for Israel Bonds, as it's Executive Director, his heritage was everything to him.
I remember there was a time when I had told him, in my stupidity, that I don't think I'm spiritually a Jew. Until the 6 months between my grandmother's death and his own, I don't think I had ever seen him so upset as I did in that moment. It's my one regret with him, I don't think there was anything I could have done that would have made that situation better.
When I think about it, the doctors will tell you that Arthur Marcus died of this, that and the other type of medical complication, and maybe, in a scientific sense, he did. But in a much deeper sense, the loss of my grandmother now a little more than 7 months ago was what killed him. This was not a man who died of illness, he died of a broken heart.
But you know, I feel as if, this time around, the death was a bit less sad ((Though not any less devastating)), for a few simple reasons. When my grandmother died, she was losing a battle to her disease, but with my grandfather, it was more of a finality thing. He had been so sad these past few months, and now he's not. I do think that these past few months were the longest he and my grandmother had ever been apart, a true love story, right to the very end. His death was not nearly as hard as watching him waste away was. He's at peace now, and if your religious, they're together again.
I will always miss him, and always regret the things that I did not atone for, but he's not in pain any more, he's at peace.
I love you grandpa, and I always will.
 Pious Flea · Mon Mar 31, 2008 @ 07:59am · 3 Comments |
