Marilyn C. Fine was born on Sept. 4, 1928, in Charleston, S.C., and passed away peacefully after a long illness Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, in Wilmington, N.C.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Arnold; parents, Dave and Janet Cohn; and sister-in-law, Elaine Menszer.
She is survived by her devoted daughters, Barbara Klein (Neal) and Joanne Hays (Edward); adoring grandchildren, Daniel (Valerie), David (Dawn) and Alison Klein (Jon Garshick) and Bradley Hays; and brother-in-law, Sam Menszer.
Marilyn graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., where she lived from the age of 7 until retiring to Wilmington, N.C., in 1997. She graduated in three years from the University of North Carolina Greensboro with a B.S. degree in economics, and married Arnold on June 25, 1950. Marilyn was active in Washington schools and community affairs, serving on the D.C. Board of Appeals for many years.
She was an involved member of Washington Hebrew Congregation for over six decades. She worked as an executive to the Under Secretary of HUD from 1967 to 1987, receiving a Certificate of Merit for her extraordinarily successful efforts in shaping the Community Development Act of 1974.
Marilyn and Arnold loved music, theater and world travel. They especially enjoyed annual trips throughout Europe with a group of Washington friends, winter vacations in Acapulco, and riverboat cruises with Wilmington friends in later years.
An only child, Marilyn was especially devoted to her aunt Hanna Pearlstine as well as many uncles and cousins. She was always there for her family, and was an exceptionally doting, hands-on grandma. She never missed a family milestone or event, no matter how far away, until she became too ill to travel.
We are very grateful to the attentive staff at Champions Assisted Living, especially the warm, devoted caregivers in the Memory Care Unit and the compassionate team at the Davis Health Center’s Lightkeepers House, where she spent her final days.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Donations in memory of Marilyn Fine may be made to the Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation, 2901 N. Central Ave., Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85012.
