Dr Joseph Charles Marcus passed away on October 28, 2026 at age 96 following an accident and a brief illness. He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Yom Kippur 1930, to Nathan and Dora Marcus, who had come to South Africa from Lithuania.

In 1956 he married Riva Cohen, and they enjoyed more than 65 happy years together. Two years after their marriage they had their first son, Neil, followed by Carole z’’l and Anthony. Neil and his wife Miriam gave them three beloved grandchildren, Daniel, Stav and Yuval, who brought them great joy and pride every day. They also took great joy from their extended family, including Joe’s sister Gwen Jacobson and Riva’s brother Mervyn Cohen z’’l and their spouses; as well as seven nieces and their families and numerous cousins and relatives around the world. They cherished time with the family, most recently when Joe visited Gwen in South Africa last year for her hundredth birthday.

Joe studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, and first practiced family medicine in Johannesburg. He moved to Cape Town to specialize in pediatrics, then at Riva’s urging to Toronto, Boston and New York starting in 1969 to specialize in pediatric neurology. The three years overseas were a great adventure, and instilled a love of travel which remains in the family through the youngest generation. Some highlights over the years included driving across Canada and the U.S., being chased by a rhino in Swaziland, staying on a houseboat in war-torn Kashmir, and exploring the family’s roots in Lithuanian shtetls.

The family returned to South Africa in 1972, where he practiced as one of the country’s few specialists and where the family flourished. In 1978 he and Riva returned to the U.S., where he spent the rest of his career at Kings County Hospital and Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. Over his long years of practice he took care of many thousands of patients and improved countless lives. After retiring in 2002, he volunteered as a long-term care ombudsman, advocating for older adults living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Joe was characterized by his formidable intellect and his sweeping knowledge of history, geography, music, literature, and many other fields. There was never a subject or a thought he couldn’t illustrate with an appropriate quote from Shakespeare, whose complete works he read to keep occupied during the pandemic. He conscientiously completed New York Times crosswords, sudokus, and other puzzles, almost always to the backdrop of classical music. He was also known for his wicked sense of humour – he always had a joke or a pun ready, and left those around him laughing – or groaning.

Relatives and friends are invited to graveside services on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 10 AM at Laurel Hill West Cemetery, 225 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Shiva will be observed at his residence. Contributions in his memory may be made to Kleinlife at https://kleinlife.org/support/donate/