OBITUARY Marian Audrey Lum April 12, 1923 – October 10, 2018 Marian Audrey (Smith) Lum passed peacefully in the embrace of her children, Susan, Peter, Christopher and Charles at 9:45PM on October 10. 2018. Marian Audrey Smith was born on April 12, 1923, in Jamaica, Queens, (New York,) the middle daughter of Mathilda and George Smith.
Jane, Mary & Betty Smith grew up in Richmond Hill, Queens, with their parents and maternal Aunt Bertha. Mary was the tomboy favorite of her father and the most vivacious of the three beauties. Marian graduated from Richmond Hill High School and married fellow alumnus and then Lieutenant Donald Charles Lum on April 28, 1943.
Already active and missing her birth, Donald did not return from WWII service until first-born Susan Jeanne was 3 years old. Through Bertha’s connections now Major Donald was hired at Charles Pfizer & Company, then a one-factory firm in Brooklyn. With Marian’s support and that of his growing family, at Pfizer Donald rose to the apex of corporate accomplishment, retiring as Board Member and VP of the now largest pharmaceutical conglomerate on earth.
First son Peter Donald was born before family moves to Wantagh, New York and then Groton, Connecticut where second son Christopher Emery was born during his father’s supervision of the opening of Pfizer’s pre-eminent global research facility there. Upon returning to Pfizer’s New York headquarters, Marian & Don had last child Charles Mitchell in Garden City, NY, where for almost 40 years Marian raised four college-bound children while active in many suburban Long Island social activities including the Garden City Community Church, golfing, casino dancing, bridge, bowling & the beach. There were even some Charades!
Accompanying Donald at Pfizer, Marian travelled the world, meeting dignitaries in countless countries including Kenya, India, Japan, China, Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Argentina, and of course Canada and Mexico (among many others. ) A Master Gardener, Marian was a President of Clark Memorial Garden in Carle Place, NY. Her yards were always awash in color.
An avid golfer (and dancer! ) with her husband, Marian enjoyed the 49ers and Tucson Country Club after Donald’s retirement and their move to Tucson in 1988. With fellow retirees from both Richmond Hill and Garden City, Marian & Don enjoyed travel and socializing amid the flora of a spectacular new environment, and so did their frequently visiting, accumulating grandchildren!
Mary lost Donald far too soon in 1996, but she continued courageously travelling the world, even as far as Polynesia. Mindful for her family, Marian created a summer compound in Raymond, Maine. After son Christopher built her a lakeside cabin on Panther Pond in 2000, he and his brother Peter followed in adjacent homes.
Summertime in Maine has since included four children, all six grandchildren, three greats and numerous nieces & nephews as well as friends from multiple generations and destinations. Marian is the Honorary Librarian Emeritus at Atria Bell Court Gardens where she has lived longer than any resident in their history. Marian will return to Maine to join Don in a family plot not 100 yards from her compound home and all of her family’s future.
She will be dearly missed yet ever present in the legacy of her vast generosities. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Marian’s favorite causes: Planned Parenthood: www. plannedparenthood.org/ and/or Tucson Symphony Orchestra: www.
tucsonsymphony.org/ A Celebration Memorial is still being planned. Please refer back to this page for date and location information.
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