Marilyn Herron

Marilyn Brodsky Neuwirth Herron (“Sunshine”), formerly of Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, FL and Pittsburgh, PA, passed away on Friday, August 27, 2021, at her home in Georgetown, TX. Marilyn was born on April 28, 1928, in Brooklyn, NY on a cold, rainy day. When newborn Marilyn was brought to her mother for the first time, sunlight poured through the window and “Sunshine” became her lifelong family nickname.

Marilyn is dearly loved and missed by her daughters, Dr. Carol Herron Lustig (Michael) and Susan Neuwirth Johnson (Mark) and son, Thomas Herron (Jane Giliberto); grandchildren Joshua Wood, Dr. Sarah Wood (Dr. Dan Yemin), Emily Federico (Ed), Jesse Herron (Lacy), and Andrew Stoffo; great-grandchildren, Simone and Judah Yemin, Helen and Alma Castro-Wood, EJ and Brandon Federico and Cole Herron. She is also mourned by loving nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents, Herman and Irma Brodsky; siblings, Claire Brodsky Kivowitz and Merrill Brodsky; husbands, Harold L. Neuwirth, Esq. and Dr. Seymour A. Herron; and daughter Joan H. Herron and son Bruce M. Herron.

At age 17, during World War II, Marilyn Brodsky left New York for Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Soon after her arrival she met Harold Neuwirth, just back from Army service and teaching American History at Duquesne while attending night law school. Being two of a handful of Jewish students at a Catholic university, Harold spotted Marilyn’s Jewish star necklace, fell in love and asked her what she was doing “tonight, tomorrow and the rest of her life.” Harold and Marilyn eloped to Chicago in early January 1947 and thus began a Camelot love story. Marilyn quit school to work and put Harold through law school. After his JD graduation, Marilyn completed her Duquesne Bachelor of Education degree in 1951 and taught second grade. Once Harold became a partner in the Pittsburgh law firm Kessler and Neuwirth, Marilyn and Harold purchased a home in the nearby steel town of McKeesport where their daughter, Susan, was born. They formed lifelong friendships in their neighborhood and became active members of Temple B’nai Israel. They enjoyed Broadway musicals and dancing in the living room. While raising their young daughter, Marilyn was a substitute teacher and taught homebound students with medical disabilities. After 18 years of marriage, Harold passed away unexpectedly in 1965 at age 42.

Two years later in March 1967, Marilyn and Susan were introduced to Seymour Herron (Sy), a dentist in McKeesport who was alone raising his four pre-teen and teenaged children Joan, Carol, Bruce and Tommy. Marilyn and Sy were soon married and the blended family resided in the Pittsburgh suburb of Brentwood. Marilyn relished the job of mothering five children and firmly took the reins of the household. She loved to shop and was an avid collector of antiques, jewelry and fine art. She had a keen eye for detail, the uncommon and the as-yet undiscovered. A tough negotiator and bargain hunter, Marilyn was often found sorting through bins at thrift shops and flea markets. Marilyn and Sy traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe often schlepping home antique treasures from shopping expeditions. Marilyn and Sy loved antique clocks and assembled a large and varied collection, which they shared with each of their children.

After Sy retired from dental practice in the early 1980s, Marilyn and Sy relocated to Florida living in several communities in Boca Raton including Mizner Court, where Marilyn served on the condominium association’s Board of Directors. She also loved her job selling fine art at the Boca Raton Resort and Club’s Curzon Gallery owned by a close friend.

In 2005, Marilyn and Sy settled into the new life care community, La Posada, in Palm Beach Gardens. Their years at La Posada were filled with deep and lasting relationships. Marilyn held positions on the resident council and food committee and was active in Jewish holiday dinners lighting her cherished antique silver candlesticks most holidays. Marilyn was also a founding sponsor of the La Posada chapter of the Florida Life Care Residents Association, a resident-led organization that ensures quality of life in retirement communities.

The historic Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY was Marilyn and Sy’s summer home for close to 30 years. Marilyn served on the Chautauqua Opera Board and was active in the Hebrew Congregation achieving her B’nai Mitzvah with friends.

In 2017, Marilyn and Sy relocated to North Texas to be near daughter Susan and son-in-law Mark. After 50 years of marriage, Sy passed away in October 2017 at the age of 101 ½. The following year, Marilyn, Susan and Mark moved to Georgetown, TX where Marilyn became an active resident of The Delaney at Georgetown Village.

Marilyn’s family extends its deepest thanks for the highest level of care and close friendships provided by residents and staff of The Delaney at Georgetown Village. Marilyn was embraced by all for her warm and upbeat spirit, outgoing personality, sharp mind and ability to make everyone in her presence smile. She truly was our “Sunshine.”

Graveside funeral services were held at Mount Ararat Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the National Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson’s.org), Temple B’Nai Israel in White Oak, PA or the local food bank of your choice.