Obituary for Marian Sylvia Horowitz
Marian Horowitz, of Ann Arbor, died in her home after a 5-year battle with lung cancer. A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Marian graduated from Dearborn High School in 1966. After high school Marian remained at home to care for her mother while she completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She subsequently earned a Master's degree in English from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. A lifelong learner, she completed all coursework for the Ph.D. at Michigan State University and after retirement became qualified as an English as Second Language (ESL) instructor.
Marian worked as a copy editor for the Detroit News and then as a technical and public relations writer at the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Detroit, where she met, and married her first husband, Dr. Samuel Horowitz. For over thirty years, she edited books, scientific articles (appearing in Science, Nature, and the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development), scores of grant applications and graduate papers and dissertations.
Throughout her professional career Marian focused on teaching and engaging young learners. She began teaching as an elementary and middle school teacher, then gained experience in higher education administration at Washtenaw Community College and Michigan State University. Marian returned to elementary and secondary education as a principal, assistant superintendent and finally as a curriculum director. In retirement Marian taught professional writing in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University and at Ashesi University in Berekuso, Ghana.
Marian was actively involved as a volunteer with the League of Women Voters, The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, AARP-Michigan, several organizations serving immigrant and asylum-seeking people, Palestinian rights, vulnerable children in Kenya and Ghana, progressive political causes, women's rights, and the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital in Accra, Ghana. One of her "quiet missions" was to acquire children's books from local charity and resale shops, clean them, and then maintain a supply of these resources to give away. She called her "giving library" "Marian's Kinder-Bucherregal."
In 2012, Marian married Richard Douglass and formed a partnership that expanded both of their lives. The two enjoyed loved long walks, sailing, bicycling on rural roads, and kayaking. Marian became a devoted gardener and transformed her yards to bountiful vegetable and flower gardens every year. She delighted in sewing, quilting and knitting "special things" for grandchildren. Her seasonal cookie extravaganza supplied holiday sweets to everyone she knew.
After her cancer diagnosis in October 2014, Marian threw herself into volunteering, connecting with the Cancer Support Community, participating in national cancer forums of the LUNGenvity Foundation, spending high quality time with adult children, grandchildren, and many friends at a second home in Tawas City. As her cancer progressed Marian delighted in meeting the dogs, and their people, that walked by her Water Hill neighborhood home, collecting vegetables from her garden, FaceTiming with family, and being an advocate for people without a voice. She remained active and engaged until just days before she succumbed to cancer.
Marian is survived by her daughter, Ann J. Horowitz (Andrew Koehlinger) of Midland, Michigan; her brother, John Herman, of Dearborn, Michigan; and her husband, Richard L. Douglass, of Ann Arbor.
Marian’s family will host a memorial service in Ann Arbor and a second memorial service at Ashesi University in Berekuso, Ghana.
Donations in honor of Marian Horowitz may be made to The Cancer Support Community - Greater Ann Arbor; Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor, 2010 Hogback Road, Suite 3, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 https://www.cancersupportannarbor.org/ or to Days for Girls; Days for Girls International, P.O. Box 2622, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 https://www.daysforgirls.org/.
The presentation of Marian's life is available at the link below:
Marian Horowitz Memorial
Marian worked as a copy editor for the Detroit News and then as a technical and public relations writer at the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Detroit, where she met, and married her first husband, Dr. Samuel Horowitz. For over thirty years, she edited books, scientific articles (appearing in Science, Nature, and the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development), scores of grant applications and graduate papers and dissertations.
Throughout her professional career Marian focused on teaching and engaging young learners. She began teaching as an elementary and middle school teacher, then gained experience in higher education administration at Washtenaw Community College and Michigan State University. Marian returned to elementary and secondary education as a principal, assistant superintendent and finally as a curriculum director. In retirement Marian taught professional writing in the College of Health and Human Services at Eastern Michigan University and at Ashesi University in Berekuso, Ghana.
Marian was actively involved as a volunteer with the League of Women Voters, The Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, AARP-Michigan, several organizations serving immigrant and asylum-seeking people, Palestinian rights, vulnerable children in Kenya and Ghana, progressive political causes, women's rights, and the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital in Accra, Ghana. One of her "quiet missions" was to acquire children's books from local charity and resale shops, clean them, and then maintain a supply of these resources to give away. She called her "giving library" "Marian's Kinder-Bucherregal."
In 2012, Marian married Richard Douglass and formed a partnership that expanded both of their lives. The two enjoyed loved long walks, sailing, bicycling on rural roads, and kayaking. Marian became a devoted gardener and transformed her yards to bountiful vegetable and flower gardens every year. She delighted in sewing, quilting and knitting "special things" for grandchildren. Her seasonal cookie extravaganza supplied holiday sweets to everyone she knew.
After her cancer diagnosis in October 2014, Marian threw herself into volunteering, connecting with the Cancer Support Community, participating in national cancer forums of the LUNGenvity Foundation, spending high quality time with adult children, grandchildren, and many friends at a second home in Tawas City. As her cancer progressed Marian delighted in meeting the dogs, and their people, that walked by her Water Hill neighborhood home, collecting vegetables from her garden, FaceTiming with family, and being an advocate for people without a voice. She remained active and engaged until just days before she succumbed to cancer.
Marian is survived by her daughter, Ann J. Horowitz (Andrew Koehlinger) of Midland, Michigan; her brother, John Herman, of Dearborn, Michigan; and her husband, Richard L. Douglass, of Ann Arbor.
Marian’s family will host a memorial service in Ann Arbor and a second memorial service at Ashesi University in Berekuso, Ghana.
Donations in honor of Marian Horowitz may be made to The Cancer Support Community - Greater Ann Arbor; Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor, 2010 Hogback Road, Suite 3, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 https://www.cancersupportannarbor.org/ or to Days for Girls; Days for Girls International, P.O. Box 2622, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 https://www.daysforgirls.org/.
The presentation of Marian's life is available at the link below:
Marian Horowitz Memorial