Marjorie Polon (December 28, 1919--August 13, 1997)

My mom towards the end of her life
Artist Mother Care Giver Helper
Friend Supporter Feminist Pal

We loved her dearly.

View some of Marge's Collages

God Bless You, Mom, I miss you terribly!

Marge working in her studio, a few years ago

view some of Marge's collages
Ruth Dennis:

She was one of the smartest people I knew. She would never have chosen to live beyond her ability to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle - fast. I know, I watched her do it many a Sunday morning at Emma's.

We had some wonderful times together - mainly because of her talents. Her terrific cooking made every week-end we were at Emma's a celebration. When four of us traveled to Antibes together one summer she was our own personal guide to the galleries and the interesting out of the way places we went. She was never motivated to do these things to show how much she knew about them, but to share her own pleasure in them with us. And that she did.

She enriched my life. It brings me joy to know that I meant something to her too.

Jane Gould:

I have lived in my apartment for almost 40 years and during this whole period, Marjorie lived directly across the street. In the early years we were casual acquaintances...After Al died, Marjorie became a woman alone. It was a time when the womens' movement was raising questions about womens' lives and roles and she found these questions to be compelling in a way she had never dared to think about before. I watched her become stronger, more independent, and she often told me that she credited the womens' movement with changing her life.

...We fell into the habit of taking subscriptions together, going to theatre, dinner and movies, often on the spur of the moment...in like manner, we watched her move into new stages in her painting....collages...It was a treat to go to a gallery or museum with Marjorie and have the pleasure of hearing her perspective on what we were seeing. It was always so clear and so fresh....

She enjoyed the freedom to explore new experiences, make new friends, and to work on political campaigns that interested her....Even when she developed some physical problems, she refused to alter her life style. When she came to visit us in the country, she was always outdoors, walking , exploring, just savoring the fresh air and quiet atmosphere...

Through the years we both got in the habit of checking on each other...It will take time to give up this habit. We have lost a close friend.

Marjorie Polon
click here to view some of Marge's collages

Jair Kessler:

My Aunt Marge:
Outside of childhood memories, the major things we shared in common were art, travel and food. I moved to Paris in 1966 to live, where I then remained for 22 years. Of course, the setting was perfect for bonding over these.

A couple of months after I moved to Paris, Marge came to visit and started to introduce me to a number of restaurants. She always teased me that when she took me to the first one, La Bucherie, a very nice restaurant with fireplaces looking at Notre Dame, I enthused to my husband: "Oh this is so great - let's save up our money to come here some time for a coffee."

As the years went by - and Marge came to visit - I was able to take her to restaurants she had not known. Paris was important to both of us. She gave me much support while my own family was upset at my living so far away from home. Whenever we discussed my feelings for Paris, she would talk about how she felt that way about New York. She also loved Paris and appreciated it esthetically (natural for someone with her artistic eyes). But she also loved New York and would enthuse to me about all the opportunities it provided her with in art, theatre, politics and, most importantly, she was happy to be near her family: Marian, Andy, Kate and Sara. Now that I have my own family, I do understand how much you get from living near each other.

I will miss coming to this apartment where I have stayed since I was a child. Marian, Andy, my sister Marsha and I used to have water pistol fights here. Every object and every painting is Marge. I will really miss her.

Johnathan Lifschutz:

Dear Marian and Andy,
Your mother was a caring and gutsy woman. She was always open to listening to alternatives to whatever it was she was doing, even if it went against her instincts. Recently, when confronted with the landlord problem, she was willing to consider moving out of the city to a community such as Great Neck. For someone of her age, this was quite a leap. When worried about getting through her later years, she was able to hear that she didn't need to be concerned financially. I will never forget how relieved she felt when I showed her a printout that illustrated how she could spend more each year and make it to age 92 with her assets. While she laughed and acknowledged that 92 was not a problem, knowing that she would not live that long due to her chronic problems, she was concerned that she be able to remain independent and in control of her finances until her time came. With your mom, what you saw was what you got, and that was refreshing for me, with every contact I had with her.

The only blessing in her untimely passing was that she was spared the indignity of a slow decline and the experience of prolonged pain. It is how she would have wanted to go. And it does not lessen the pain losing a mother who cared deeply about her children and those around her.

I will miss hearing her voice, the genuineness of her love for you, her concern for my family and me, and the common sense which defined her vision of the world.

I was deeply moved by the depth of feeling and love that was shared by your mother's friends who came to share their feelings and memories last Sunday.

Early photo of mother, me, and my sister
My mother, sister, and myself in more innocent times

View some of Marge's Collages

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