It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my father James Farrell Marek on November 12, 2025. James, known as ‘Jim’ to those who knew him was born on September 6, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio to Larry and Jean Marek, younger brother to Charles.

Dad spent much of his childhood on the baseball field, playing ball in elementary, middle, and high school. His passion for baseball never dwindled, and he was still “stealing third” well into his 40s with the ripped sweatpants to prove it.

Dad attended Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio where he met my mother Susan Irene Snyder on a blind date arranged by friends. Dad enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967, was honorably discharged in 1969, earning an MBA in Finance from BGSU the following year.

In 1971, my father and mother were married at St. Patrick’s Church in Cleveland. Dad accepted a job at Central National Bank of Cleveland and my mother taught second grade in the Berea school system. A few years later, they welcomed me, daughter Anne into the world and settled in the beloved home they would refer to as their “gingerbread cottage” in Bay Village, Ohio.

While my father would have undoubtedly preferred to have become a professional baseball player, he ended up becoming an investment banker, a career which began in Cleveland and ended up in New York City where he went on to become Senior Vice President at four leading Wall Street financial institutions.

My father and mother resettled in the tiny hamlet of Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J. where I was raised. Dad was a family man first and always. His days began well before sunrise, rushing to catch commuter trains and ferry boats to lower Manhattan, but he came home for dinner every night. He taught me to ride a bike, and later to drive. He spent the better part of 1988 secretly building a dollhouse in the laundry room after I’d gone to bed each night, and he always remembered to buy my mother flowers on their anniversary.

Sadly, we lost mother in 2003. Dad retired from his 25-year career on Wall Street a few years later and relocated to Culpepper, Virginia where he became a high school math teacher. When he was ready to retire for good, Dad moved to Fort Myers, Florida where he spent his remaining healthy years soaking up sunshine on the golf course.

Near the end of his life, Dad relocated to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina to be closer to his family. Unfortunately, his health took a turn for the worse and his time with us lasted just a few months.

Jim is also survived by his granddaughter Grace and grandson Carter. They loved him dearly, as did I and we will all miss him.

Arrangements for a private burial service are being made by our family. In honor of Jim, please consider making a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org

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