Paul Bass Photo
Ed Marcus at WNHH FM with the late journalist Marcia Chambers, who wrote critical articles about him but by whom he nevertheless enjoyed being interviewed.
Ed Marcus, a leading figure in Connecticut’s Democratic Party who stayed active into his tenth decade, has died at the age of 94.
Marcus represented New Haven in the State Senate beginning in 1959, rising to the position of chamber majority leader, until 1970, when he was knocked out office by another ambitious New Haven politician, Joe Lieberman.
But Marcus’s career was only beginning. He built a successful law practice (which eventually moved to Branford), served as state Democratic party chairman from 1992 – 2000, and served as a fundraiser and behind-the-scene powerbroker. He loved the sport of political conflict, as well as the sport of tennis. He had his share of controversies, and remained an unapologetic and scrappy defender of his positions, his candidates, and transactional politics.
In 2020, Michel Bloomberg tapped Marcus along with former New Haven Mayor Toni Harp to serve as his presidential campaign Connecticut co-chairs before dropping out of the race. (Click here to read Kevin Rennie’s take on Marcus’s political career.)
Click here to hear a 2016 interview with Marcus about the state of American politics on the eve of the Trump election, on WNHH FM’s “Legal Eagle” program.
Marcus was married to Jill Marcus and was the father of Shelley Marcus, who became a Superior Court judge in 2013.
Marcus’s funeral is scheduled to take place at Shure Funeral Home, 543 George St. in New Haven, Monday at 11 a.m. A private burial is scheduled to follow.
Contributions in Marcus’s memory can be sent to the Daniel Cosgrove Animal Shelter in Branford.
Following is the text of an obituary prepared by his family:
Edward Leonard Marcus, passed away on May 5, 2022, in Yale New Haven Hospital in the loving embrace of two of his daughters, Shelley and Nicole Marcus. He was a month shy of his 95th birthday. Edward was born in Brooklyn, NY. on June 14th, 1927. He was the son of the late Dr. Isadore Marcus and Dorothy (Kirchstein) Marcus.
Ed’s life was comprised of many successes. Many people are aware of his professional and political accomplishments, which were numerous and tremendous.
He attended Poly Prep Country Day School in New York for high school, where he not only excelled in the classroom but athletics as well, playing on the Varsity Football and baseball team.
This was followed by his attendance at Yale University, where he received his BA, excelling in his academics, as well as his successes on the Football, Baseball, and basketball teams, and as manager of the wrestling team.
Ed then graduated from the Yale University School of Law in the graduating class of 1950 with his LLB and LLD. While attending law school, Ed became very involved in the community, believing in public service and aiding others, which extended to a larger scale vision.
This interest led him to run for office for the Board of Alders (Alderman) in the early 1950’s, where he knocked on every door in the ward. He was successful in his first attempt running and was thereafter a Majority leader on the Board of Alders 1951.
He began The Marcus Law Firm upon his graduation from Yale. What began as a one-man operation quickly became a thriving law firm that has become known by many today throughout all of New England.
He went on to run for State Senate where he served six terms as Majority Leader and then served as Democratic State Chairman beginning in 1992 for a number of years. In these roles he had the privilege and pleasure to meet many prominent elected officials, community members, and new friends. He loved to debate, educate, and learn from others. He was known as a tough, strong, stubborn, and determined man, who was also confidently humble. But this family knows his true nature, which was loving, generous, kind, sentimental, compassionate, animal loving, and an overall big softy (daily carrying all family cards in his briefcase).
Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Mortimer Bennett. He leaves behind his wife, Jill (Surprenant) Marcus, who has been a Police Commissioner for 17 years, has served as a volunteer for MADD, and served as a Deacon at the Stony Creek Congregational Church. Jill and Ed had been married for 33 years; celebrating their anniversary on August 9th. They had a wonderful marriage filled with travel, many adored pets, played tennis together, and hosted numerous political functions at their home.
Ed is survived by three daughters:
The Honorable Judge Shelley A. Marcus (Edward Burke), Shelley was his sidekick in all things political and athletic almost from the time she could crawl. Shelley fondly remembers living in Westville, New Haven, where her father would organize touch football games in their yard and included all the neighborhood children. They enjoyed going to Yale football games together, as well as, going to watch the NY Giants when they played at the Yale Bowl. Ed was an avid tennis player and passed that love onto Shelley. They often played together, for recreation and father/daughter mixed double tournaments. Shelley also inherited his love of law, becoming an attorney at his law firm and thusly becoming the Judge that she is today. She describes him as her best friend forever.
Susan Marcus, loved to play tennis, go swimming, skiing, and travelling with her father and family. She later found a love of horseback riding. Ed was the most important component in Susan’s successes, as he would advocate for her and her Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) throughout her life. It was important to him to give Sue all the resources that she needed in order to be a happy, independent, community member; Chapel Haven where Sue resided after graduation, lessons in all things athletic, and a lifelong position at The Marcus Law Firm where Sue enjoyed driving as a courier as one of her responsibilities.
Nicole Marcus (Lucia Rivera), great niece of Ed’s wife Jill Marcus, became his adopted daughter in 1996 when she was at the age of 12. Nicole is a teacher at Applewild, a private day and boarding school in Fitchburg, MA. Ed made sure she had the best education from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, followed by a Certification Program at Southern Connecticut State University. He was in attendance of every match and game she ever played in and was her biggest cheerleader and “car ride coach.” Beyond that, he was a father she hadn’t had; she describes him as her consistent, ever loving, ever accepting, man that has shown her guidance, gave her possibilities, and a life she wouldn’t trade for the world.
Ed also leaves behind former wife Phyllis Marcus. Ed and Phyllis met while he was in Yale, they married when she was 19 and he was 21, in 1948. They had their two daughters, Shelley, and Susan together and created many happy memories in their time with one another.
He also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as his beloved fur babies, Bella and Bebe Marcus.
The family would like to thank the dedicated nurses and doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital for their competent and compassionate care in his final days. We would also like to thank Forrest Page for his indescribable love, care, and kindness that he has bestowed upon Ed and this family during these difficult times.
Funeral Services will be held on MONDAY morning May 9th at 11:00 at the Robert E. Shure & Son Funeral Home, 543 George St. New Haven. Masks are required to protect all who attend. Burial will be PRIVATE. Memorial Contributions may be sent to the David Cosgrove Animal Shelter, Branford , CT. To sign an online registry book or to leave a message of condolence, please visit;www.shurefuneralhome.com.
Sincere condolences to the Marcus family and especially Shelly Marcus, my former attorney many years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting your father on several occasions with the late Jim Newton, who respected and adored Mr. Marcus.