Dana Marshall Cook memorial. 6.12.11

Mt. Sinai, Hollywood. Dana’s sister Tracy arranged a beautiful service for Dana.

white balloons

classmates: Danny, Michele Marla.

Mrs. Kretzer, history teacher.

Marilyn Nelson Kretzer died on April 21, 2011 after a three-month, heroic battle with triple negative, massively metastatic breast cancer. She was born in Detroit, Michigan to Belle and Sam Nelson. She is survived by husband Frank; her son Seth; her daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Mark Rubinshtein; sister and brother-in-law Lois and Robert Warner; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carol and Richard Levy; half-sister & brother–in-law Rita and Dick Robbins; and nieces, nephews, and cousins for whom she had endless pride in all their successes and achievements and love. Other than this “genetic family”, Marilyn was blessed to have the most incredible Houston extended family, hundreds of peer-teachers and adoring students over her 47 year teaching career at Portola Middle School in Tarzana, California, Johnston Middle School in Meyerland, Westbury High School in southwest Houston, and a supervising teacher at Rice University for the next generation of teachers. She co-authored two textbooks that stressed creative activities and the use of primary source material that made history effectively come alive and related to current events and immediate political decisions that her students would have to make with insight into the future with deep roots into the past.

Marilyn’s teaching awards and honors are endless, but a few deserve special mention as capturing the incredible nature of her teaching and caring: Texas Council for the Social Studies Middle School Teacher of the Year, Recipient of a Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship at Princeton University, a fellowship at The Colonial Williamsberg Summer Institute, and endless Impact grants to enhance Making History Come Alive Through Literature, Tolerance, Intercultural History in the Classroom, Women in American History, and Cultural Diversity in the Classroom.

On every campus where she ever taught over these past five decades, she became the Senior Class Sponsor, director of the Gifted and Talented and AP programs, Yearbook sponsor, and advocate for every student to achieve their utmost, to appreciate their unique talents, and to ensure that they could succeed and fulfill their individual dreams . She always strove to create meaningful memories for all her students, be it a stupendous home coming event, a glorious prom, a fantastic graduation, or a valentine rose for every student as a fund raising activity. But all these “extras” never decreased her sense of academic excellence. The projects she created are remembered by generations of her students.

Although the ravages of her cancer were brutal and swift, the miracle of massive steroids created a short window in time in which so many of her past students and peer teachers and childhood friends could fly into Houston, send pictures, and write unbelievable e-mails about her impact on their lives. She was so lucky to have these precious moments in which so many of her past students and co-workers could tell her their individual stories and memories. As a family, we had a few glorious moments to re-look at photo albums, recount stories, and enjoy the memories that she created for all of us. All our Houston friends banded together and created a baby shower for Jessica who is six months pregnant with our first grandchild (grandson). What a glorious event for a woman in the last stages of terminal cancer to be able to fully enjoy a baby shower for the grandson she will never physically see.

We cannot forget all the unique personality traits of Marilyn that made her short life so rich and remarkable – pride in everybody’s successes, a love of shopping and fashion and jewelry, her unique ability to create and love and embrace the friends who surrounded her, her endless gusto and energy, her passion for cooking and hosting parties, her determination to create traditions, and her sense of excellence and always doing your best.

Marilyn was a terrific wife, a supporting and nurturing mother, a beloved sister, a devoted daughter, and a trusted friend and mentor. She seized every moment of life and made it special and unforgettable. Death came too early, but no moment was lost or escaped her caring.

Funeral services will be at Congregation Beth Israel at 3:00 on Friday, April 22, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard officiated by Rabbi David Lyon and Cantor Robert Gerber, internment will follow immediately at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet Street, and the family will attend 6:30 pm Shabbat Services at Beth Israel and receive visitors there.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marilyn’s memory can be made to one of the following:

The Marilyn Kretzer Scholarship for Academic Leadership through the Friends of Westbury High School Foundation (www.friendswhs.org)

Or

The Adult Education Fund at Congregation Beth Israel in memory of Marilyn Kretzer (www.Beth-Israel.org/giving)