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Marvin Ross Weisbord June 11, 1931 – March 19, 2025 We are sad to announce the passing of Marvin Weisbord, who died peacefully on March 19, 2025 at the age of 93. Born June 11, 1931, Marv was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, dear friend, and mentor to countless others whose lives he touched through his wide ranging endeavors over a long and purposeful life. Marv was a son of Philadelphia. He grew up in the Wynnefield section where he played basketball in the alleys and developed a lifelong love of learning and music. He attended Overbrook High School, excelling in academics and playing for the Police Athletic League championship basketball team. His curiosity took him to the University of Arizona and later to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and learned to fly planes. A born storyteller, Marv went on to study journalism, earning a Masters degree from the University of Iowa. Shortly after graduation, Marv met his future wife, Dorothy Barclay, a college friend of sister Mimi. Marv and Dorothy shared over 68 years of marriage, devoted to each other and their family, raising four children together. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were enchanted by his music-making and the imaginary beasts and humorous tales Marv created for them. Drafted into the Navy, Marv served as ship’s journalist aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Valley Forge. Through words and pictures, he documented the challenging and dangerous work of his crewmates during the height of the Cold War. The skill and nerve of the Navy pilots deepened his fascination with flight. His time in the Navy imprinted on him the value of community and common purpose; themes he would later connect to his work on complex systems and human organizations. In 1965, Marv came across an ad in the back of The Saturday Review and purchased a small, weathered hunting camp nestled in a meadow in Mount Holly, Vermont. There he often spent his days in a screen tent pitched beside the cabin, cranking out books and articles on his portable Smith-Corona, the keys clattering away at 120 words per minute. The camp, overlooking Lake Ninevah, captured his imagination and became the heart of family life. Three generations of children grew up exploring the trails, sailing on the lake, and eating Marv’s special pancakes filled with freshly picked blueberries. Marv's career journey was as diverse as his interests. He taught photojournalism at Penn State, worked in his family's printing business, and started a company that supplied tools for writers. In mid-career, he launched a management consulting practice based on the understanding that making work more meaningful and dignified boosts productivity and effectiveness. As a partner at Block Petrella Weisbord, he successfully applied this approach in hospitals, universities, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies across North America and Europe. Marv was celebrated in the organizational development field for his practical wisdom and unique ability to bring out the best in others. His book Productive Workplaces: Organizing and Managing for Dignity, Meaning, and Community became a classic in the field, used as a textbook and reprinted many times, influencing generations of practitioners. Later, Marv turned his attention to large-scale systems change. In collaboration with Sandra Janoff, he co-founded the Future Search Network, a global nonprofit helping organizations and communities engage in cooperative planning. This work took them to six continents, engaging some of the world’s most challenging problems. Marv wrote prolifically—authoring or co-authoring a dozen books and publishing countless articles on topics ranging from politics to parenting. Marv loved words, as a writer, a punster, and an avid game player. He was known to work on the New York Times crossword between turns during family Scrabble games. Music was a lifelong pursuit and source of joy. Marv joked that he was still playing "oom-pah piano" into his 70s when he turned his serious attention to jazz. Out of Sunday jam sessions at his Wynnewood home grew a working ensemble that brought music to the Beaumont Retirement Community for the past ten years. He continued to perform with the band until just a short time before his death. At Beaumont, Marv met Allan Tripp and embarked on a songwriting collaboration that resulted in an irresistible contemporary take on aging inspired by music of the classic American songbook. The Senior Songbook garnered media attention and landed them a spot on the Kelly Clarkson show as the “oldest living songwriting team.” Reflecting on his musical journey, Marv wrote: “The full course lasts a lifetime—and nobody finishes.” Marv is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his children, Joe (Joyce), Nina (George), Bob (Dawn), Dano (Annie); eight grandchildren, Chloe (Jimmy) Isabel (Hunter) Carson, Lowell, Sylvie, John, Reid, and Meiyi; and three great-grandchildren, Areli, Otis, and Penelope. He was pre-deceased by his sister Mimi Weisbord and is survived by his sister Susan Newman; as well as many nieces, nephews, beloved family members and friends. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life on Sunday April 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr PA. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to Farm & Wilderness Conservation using the following link: https://farmandwildernessconservation.org/weisbord. May his memory be a blessing for all who knew and loved him.

Tributes

Marvin Ross Weisbord

June 11, 1931 - March 19, 2025