Lester Marks died at home Tuesday, May 29, 2018, surrounded by his loving wife of 23 years and his two daughters, after succumbing to myelofibrosis. He was 89 years old and retired from Ohio University where he was professor of English literature from 1959 to 1999, also serving as the university's first ombudsman in 1970, returning for a second term in 1977.

Born in New York City's Washington Heights to Judge Charles and Paula Marks, he received his Bachelor of Science in economics and pre-law from New York University. Instead of that path, his passion for literature led to acquiring his Masters in English literature at the University of Connecticut, followed by his PhD from Syracuse University. The move to a professorship at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio was meant to be temporary, but he was taken with the beauty of the area, the intellectual play of his department, and the lively community and so he remained to raise his family in Athens' warmth.

An early year abroad in Stockholm, Sweden instilled in him a love of Scandinavia, its people and literature. He received a Fulbright grant to Trondheim, Norway (1966-68) where he lived with his family, followed later by several periods as a visiting professor in Trondheim and Tromso, Norway, and Aarhus, Denmark. As professor emeritus he continued to teach at O.U. branch campuses for many years, including four summers in Hong Kong.

Professor Marks was a lively and provocative teacher and mentor, with deep knowledge of the works of John Steinbeck (about whom he published a book and numerous articles), D.H. Lawrence, American-Jewish authors such as Philip Roth, Saul Bellow, and Chaim Potok, and Scandinavian authors. He developed the first African-American literature courses at Ohio University, helped create Ohio University's strong international study program, and a demanding interdisciplinary "war class" on conflict resolution, attended by many veterans.

He was deeply involved in the community, serving on boards including the Visiting Nurses Association of Ohio, Hospice of Athens, Ohio, the Southeast Ohio Anti-Defamation League and the O.U. Hillel Foundation, where he helped found the area's first Jewish cemetery. He was particularly proud to host Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel in Athens for a lecture and meetings with community groups and school children.

His excitement for and love of reading and literature continued throughout his life, and at the time of his death he was exuberantly working his way through the seven-book collection by Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard, My Struggle. He loved Jewish humor, particularly Mel Brooks, Sid Caesar, and Nichols and May, and liked to think he was in their league, though few would agree. A dedicated practitioner of Transcendental Meditation for 43 years, he credited TM for helping him quit smoking "cold-turkey," his robust health, and his sanguine personality. He was passionate about travel, particularly to Europe, returning dozens of times to Norway where he led occasional tour groups, inventing stories along the way.

At Lester's ever-vibrant core was his treasured family, friends, and his belief in justice and fairness for all. His generosity of spirit is shown in the causes he supported.

A corporal of the United States Army during the Korean War, he did not see combat. A training injury left him with severe tinnitus and he was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

He is survived by his beloved Miriam (Mimi) Hart, his wife of 23 years; daughter Erica Marks and her husband Dan George of Kingston, NY, granddaughter Shannon (Nathan) and great granddaughter Maya; daughter Jessica Marks and her husband Bernt Aarset, twin grandsons Elias and Daniel Marks Aarset, all of Kolbotn, Norway; sister Lucille Ellison of Boca Raton FL; and many loving nieces and nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Paula, his wife of 40 years Valeria Ann Tofil Marks ("Taffy"), and his brother Howard Marks.

A private family funeral will be followed at a later date by a public memorial celebration of his life. A public Celebration of Life memorial service will be held Saturday, June 30th at 4:00 p.m. at the Southeast Ohio History Center, 24 W. State St., Athens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his memory to the Southern Poverty Law Center (Office of Development, 400 Washington Ave, Montgomery AL, 36104), The Hillel Foundation of Ohio University (21 Hill St, Athens, Ohio, 45701) or to Ohio Health Hospice (444 West Union St, Suite C, Athens, OH 45701).

Arrangements are with Jagers & Sons Funeral Home. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.