GK JOHN MARCUS, REST IN PEACE

IN MEMORIAM

Here John and I are cutting into a delicious cake.  What we see here was the fattest (me) and the skinniest man in the K of C Council.  John suffered from so many things, reduced lung capacity, kidney failure, you name it.  But he was a REAL FIGHTER!   

I went to school with John’s sister. She was a year behind me. I often joked with John that I could not believe he was related to that pretty girl who attended Suitland High School so many years ago when I was a teenager. He would laugh and then we would talk about other things– Wendy (His wife) and her troubles when she was struggling with cancer, his daughter who helped to care for him, about his faith and prayerlife, and often about news and efforts in the right-to-life cause which was so dear to him.

John was very dear to my heart, and given his health, I must honestly say that I was not very keen on him being Grand Knight again of the SPX Knights of Columbus council this year. But John was John. He would listen and show respect, but then do what he felt he had to do. It was remarked that John was like a cat with nine lives, again and again when we thought the end was near, he would fool us and get better for awhile. His personal suffering in the body was something he endured for the unborn and the salvation of souls.

I have known John a a long time. The past few years I was privileged to be the K of C chaplain. He called me with regrets just a few days ago about the memorial Mass for the Knights that we were supposed to have at my parish, Holy Spirit. He said, “Sorry Father, someone dropped the ball and the word did not go out, we will have to reschedule.” That was the last two way conversation we had.

We have lost a real pro-life Catholic hero. John was a special man, one in a million. His dedication to the cause was known throughout the state of Maryland and among the most active and famous pro-life advocates and groups. He prayed thousands of rosaries for the lives of unborn babies and in the hope that mothers might know a conversion of heart. His quiet and peaceful witness on Saturdays outside abortuaries was well known, and he encouraged others to join him. Now it is up to us to continue the good work that John began. He is counting on our continued labors for the Gospel of Life. That is the greatest way we can pay tribute to his legacy.

We have all lost a dear brother and a wonderful friend; but heaven is inviting a new citizen of the kingdom. Jesus holding one hand and his wife holding the other, I suspect he is surrounded by the millions of children lost through abortion, all welcoming him as a special spiritual father. He regularly prayed Archbishop Sheen’s prayer for the spiritual adoption of the unborn at risk to abortion.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of [baby’s name] the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.”

Obituary Entry in The Washington Post, Feb. 14, 2007

JOHN R. MARCUS — On Sunday, February 11, 2007, the Grand Knight of St. Pius X Knights of Columbus Council and pro-life activist. The beloved husband of the late Wendy Joy Marcus; father of Ginger Rose Marcus; brother of Mike M. and Sidney O. Marcus, III, Kathy Aldrich, Wendy Calvin, Susan Gray and Cindy Camp. Friends may call at GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD on Friday,from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, February 17 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 14912 Main St., Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gabriel Project, PO Box 2116, Bowie, MD 20718.

I will sorely miss John. All who know John grieve together, but we also know that John’s life made a real difference.

Rest in peace dear John– no more earthly pain or sorrow or fear is yours, receive the prize that our Lord holds out to you.  You have run the race…you are home.