Marks, Janet Mae Wickersham
87, long-time human rights advocate and community volunteer. One summer day in 1968, Janet Marks, a housewife living in Wilmette with her husband and four children, drove to the Black Panthers' headquarters at Madison and Western on Chicago's west side to find out whether the group was as dangerous a threat to the public welfare as the press and government officials portrayed them to be. A few days earlier the headquarters had been gutted by fire. She was graciously received and made several follow up visits with friends. Impressed by the intelligence of those she met, she arranged a gathering in her home in which three young women members of the Black Panthers explained their views to north shore residents. "This incident was characteristic of Janet," said Clayton Taylor, a retired Evanston Township High School teacher who accompanied her on two of her visits. "She was fearless and resolute in her determination to investigate the truth and courageously devoted to promoting harmony and understanding among people. Her actions in those days had a big impact on my thinking and decision to become a teacher."
Janet Mae Wickersham Marks was born in 1922, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, to Arthur S. and Frances M. Wickersham and was the youngest of five children. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Evanston, close to the Lake Michigan shore. Janet's earliest and happiest memories were of the lake and the sound of the Central Street lighthouse foghorn. In the 1930s, the family returned to Rogers Park. After graduating from Sullivan High School, Janet worked for City National Bank on LaSalle Street while attending night classes at De Paul University. There she met Richard E. Marks, of Oak Park, and they were married on October 11, 1941.
Janet and Richard celebrated 68 years of a loving and sustaining marriage on the day she died after suffering a stroke six days earlier. After Richard's World War II military service, the couple lived in Evanston and Janet worked as secretary to John W. Beattie, dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University. Richard and Janet eventually settled in Wilmette, where they would raise their five children and live for 42 years before returning to Evanston.
Richard worked for Sheffield Foundry in Chicago, of which he later became president and co-owner. Being of service to others was Janet's natural avocation. She was renowned for her acts of kindness, and nothing for a friend in need was too much for her, whether transporting a friend to the doctor, bringing a lonely student home for a tasty meal around the family dinner table, taking care of children while their mother was ill, or offering wise and loving counsel in times of difficulty. Actively engaged in community service, Janet served on the Board of Religious Education of the First Congregational Church in Wilmette and, with Richard, was a long-time Sunday school teacher. She also volunteered at Casa Central, a multi-denominational mission in Chicago that provides social services to the Hispanic population, and she was active in the Logan (now McKenzie) School PTA, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Sister Cities International, and later, the Wilmette Seniors and the North Shore Senior Center.
In the late 1960s, disturbed by the barriers that prevented black people from buying homes on the North Shore, she visited neighbors in Wilmette on behalf of the North Shore Fair Housing Center to ask if they would be willing to sell their homes to black families. Janet's commitment to building racial unity led her in 1967 to become a member of the Baha'i Faith, a central precept of which is the oneness of humanity. For many years she served as the secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Wilmette, and for 20 years she was the director of the Baha'i School of the North Shore, which was based at the Winnetka Community House.
Janet was preceded in death by her four brothers and sisters, Arthur, Kenneth, Jane Egan, and Joy Merritt. In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons, Geoffry, Andrew and Brian; a daughter, Catherine Yamamoto; a foster son, Lawrence Banks; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
87, long-time human rights advocate and community volunteer. One summer day in 1968, Janet Marks, a housewife living in Wilmette with her husband and four children, drove to the Black Panthers' headquarters at Madison and Western on Chicago's west side to find out whether the group was as dangerous a threat to the public welfare as the press and government officials portrayed them to be. A few days earlier the headquarters had been gutted by fire. She was graciously received and made several follow up visits with friends. Impressed by the intelligence of those she met, she arranged a gathering in her home in which three young women members of the Black Panthers explained their views to north shore residents. "This incident was characteristic of Janet," said Clayton Taylor, a retired Evanston Township High School teacher who accompanied her on two of her visits. "She was fearless and resolute in her determination to investigate the truth and courageously devoted to promoting harmony and understanding among people. Her actions in those days had a big impact on my thinking and decision to become a teacher."
Janet Mae Wickersham Marks was born in 1922, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, to Arthur S. and Frances M. Wickersham and was the youngest of five children. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Evanston, close to the Lake Michigan shore. Janet's earliest and happiest memories were of the lake and the sound of the Central Street lighthouse foghorn. In the 1930s, the family returned to Rogers Park. After graduating from Sullivan High School, Janet worked for City National Bank on LaSalle Street while attending night classes at De Paul University. There she met Richard E. Marks, of Oak Park, and they were married on October 11, 1941.
Janet and Richard celebrated 68 years of a loving and sustaining marriage on the day she died after suffering a stroke six days earlier. After Richard's World War II military service, the couple lived in Evanston and Janet worked as secretary to John W. Beattie, dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University. Richard and Janet eventually settled in Wilmette, where they would raise their five children and live for 42 years before returning to Evanston.
Richard worked for Sheffield Foundry in Chicago, of which he later became president and co-owner. Being of service to others was Janet's natural avocation. She was renowned for her acts of kindness, and nothing for a friend in need was too much for her, whether transporting a friend to the doctor, bringing a lonely student home for a tasty meal around the family dinner table, taking care of children while their mother was ill, or offering wise and loving counsel in times of difficulty. Actively engaged in community service, Janet served on the Board of Religious Education of the First Congregational Church in Wilmette and, with Richard, was a long-time Sunday school teacher. She also volunteered at Casa Central, a multi-denominational mission in Chicago that provides social services to the Hispanic population, and she was active in the Logan (now McKenzie) School PTA, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Sister Cities International, and later, the Wilmette Seniors and the North Shore Senior Center.
In the late 1960s, disturbed by the barriers that prevented black people from buying homes on the North Shore, she visited neighbors in Wilmette on behalf of the North Shore Fair Housing Center to ask if they would be willing to sell their homes to black families. Janet's commitment to building racial unity led her in 1967 to become a member of the Baha'i Faith, a central precept of which is the oneness of humanity. For many years she served as the secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Wilmette, and for 20 years she was the director of the Baha'i School of the North Shore, which was based at the Winnetka Community House.
Janet was preceded in death by her four brothers and sisters, Arthur, Kenneth, Jane Egan, and Joy Merritt. In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons, Geoffry, Andrew and Brian; a daughter, Catherine Yamamoto; a foster son, Lawrence Banks; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
Marks, Janet Mae Wickersham
87, long-time human rights advocate and community volunteer. One summer day in 1968, Janet Marks, a housewife living in Wilmette with her husband and four children, drove to the Black Panthers' headquarters at Madison and Western on Chicago's west side to find out whether the group was as dangerous a threat to the public welfare as the press and government officials portrayed them to be. A few days earlier the headquarters had been gutted by fire. She was graciously received and made several follow up visits with friends. Impressed by the intelligence of those she met, she arranged a gathering in her home in which three young women members of the Black Panthers explained their views to north shore residents. "This incident was characteristic of Janet," said Clayton Taylor, a retired Evanston Township High School teacher who accompanied her on two of her visits. "She was fearless and resolute in her determination to investigate the truth and courageously devoted to promoting harmony and understanding among people. Her actions in those days had a big impact on my thinking and decision to become a teacher."
Janet Mae Wickersham Marks was born in 1922, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, to Arthur S. and Frances M. Wickersham and was the youngest of five children. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Evanston, close to the Lake Michigan shore. Janet's earliest and happiest memories were of the lake and the sound of the Central Street lighthouse foghorn. In the 1930s, the family returned to Rogers Park. After graduating from Sullivan High School, Janet worked for City National Bank on LaSalle Street while attending night classes at De Paul University. There she met Richard E. Marks, of Oak Park, and they were married on October 11, 1941.
Janet and Richard celebrated 68 years of a loving and sustaining marriage on the day she died after suffering a stroke six days earlier. After Richard's World War II military service, the couple lived in Evanston and Janet worked as secretary to John W. Beattie, dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University. Richard and Janet eventually settled in Wilmette, where they would raise their five children and live for 42 years before returning to Evanston.
Richard worked for Sheffield Foundry in Chicago, of which he later became president and co-owner. Being of service to others was Janet's natural avocation. She was renowned for her acts of kindness, and nothing for a friend in need was too much for her, whether transporting a friend to the doctor, bringing a lonely student home for a tasty meal around the family dinner table, taking care of children while their mother was ill, or offering wise and loving counsel in times of difficulty. Actively engaged in community service, Janet served on the Board of Religious Education of the First Congregational Church in Wilmette and, with Richard, was a long-time Sunday school teacher. She also volunteered at Casa Central, a multi-denominational mission in Chicago that provides social services to the Hispanic population, and she was active in the Logan (now McKenzie) School PTA, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Sister Cities International, and later, the Wilmette Seniors and the North Shore Senior Center.
In the late 1960s, disturbed by the barriers that prevented black people from buying homes on the North Shore, she visited neighbors in Wilmette on behalf of the North Shore Fair Housing Center to ask if they would be willing to sell their homes to black families. Janet's commitment to building racial unity led her in 1967 to become a member of the Baha'i Faith, a central precept of which is the oneness of humanity. For many years she served as the secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Wilmette, and for 20 years she was the director of the Baha'i School of the North Shore, which was based at the Winnetka Community House.
Janet was preceded in death by her four brothers and sisters, Arthur, Kenneth, Jane Egan, and Joy Merritt. In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons, Geoffry, Andrew and Brian; a daughter, Catherine Yamamoto; a foster son, Lawrence Banks; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
87, long-time human rights advocate and community volunteer. One summer day in 1968, Janet Marks, a housewife living in Wilmette with her husband and four children, drove to the Black Panthers' headquarters at Madison and Western on Chicago's west side to find out whether the group was as dangerous a threat to the public welfare as the press and government officials portrayed them to be. A few days earlier the headquarters had been gutted by fire. She was graciously received and made several follow up visits with friends. Impressed by the intelligence of those she met, she arranged a gathering in her home in which three young women members of the Black Panthers explained their views to north shore residents. "This incident was characteristic of Janet," said Clayton Taylor, a retired Evanston Township High School teacher who accompanied her on two of her visits. "She was fearless and resolute in her determination to investigate the truth and courageously devoted to promoting harmony and understanding among people. Her actions in those days had a big impact on my thinking and decision to become a teacher."
Janet Mae Wickersham Marks was born in 1922, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, to Arthur S. and Frances M. Wickersham and was the youngest of five children. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Evanston, close to the Lake Michigan shore. Janet's earliest and happiest memories were of the lake and the sound of the Central Street lighthouse foghorn. In the 1930s, the family returned to Rogers Park. After graduating from Sullivan High School, Janet worked for City National Bank on LaSalle Street while attending night classes at De Paul University. There she met Richard E. Marks, of Oak Park, and they were married on October 11, 1941.
Janet and Richard celebrated 68 years of a loving and sustaining marriage on the day she died after suffering a stroke six days earlier. After Richard's World War II military service, the couple lived in Evanston and Janet worked as secretary to John W. Beattie, dean of the School of Music at Northwestern University. Richard and Janet eventually settled in Wilmette, where they would raise their five children and live for 42 years before returning to Evanston.
Richard worked for Sheffield Foundry in Chicago, of which he later became president and co-owner. Being of service to others was Janet's natural avocation. She was renowned for her acts of kindness, and nothing for a friend in need was too much for her, whether transporting a friend to the doctor, bringing a lonely student home for a tasty meal around the family dinner table, taking care of children while their mother was ill, or offering wise and loving counsel in times of difficulty. Actively engaged in community service, Janet served on the Board of Religious Education of the First Congregational Church in Wilmette and, with Richard, was a long-time Sunday school teacher. She also volunteered at Casa Central, a multi-denominational mission in Chicago that provides social services to the Hispanic population, and she was active in the Logan (now McKenzie) School PTA, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Sister Cities International, and later, the Wilmette Seniors and the North Shore Senior Center.
In the late 1960s, disturbed by the barriers that prevented black people from buying homes on the North Shore, she visited neighbors in Wilmette on behalf of the North Shore Fair Housing Center to ask if they would be willing to sell their homes to black families. Janet's commitment to building racial unity led her in 1967 to become a member of the Baha'i Faith, a central precept of which is the oneness of humanity. For many years she served as the secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Wilmette, and for 20 years she was the director of the Baha'i School of the North Shore, which was based at the Winnetka Community House.
Janet was preceded in death by her four brothers and sisters, Arthur, Kenneth, Jane Egan, and Joy Merritt. In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons, Geoffry, Andrew and Brian; a daughter, Catherine Yamamoto; a foster son, Lawrence Banks; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
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