Myron Bergson Marks

He was born on the 21st of November 1920, in Marshall, Texas, to Aby B. and Mildred Bergson Marks. He excelled in school, and gave the high school graduation speech on “World Events of 1937.” His father had new car dealerships, where Myron could be found selling cars, assisting management, and visiting other businesses to learn how they were operated.

Myron’s mother died after a long illness when he was ten years old, creating a bond with his two-year younger brother that lasted until his brother died at age 89, during which time they were in constant contact, almost every day, except when separated during World War II.

About two years after his mother’s demise, Myron’s father married Belle Fink, living in Chicago, who moved to Marshall. It was she, who, after Myron and his brother, Ralph, returned home after the end of the War, insisted they move to a large city, where there were unlimited opportunities for their careers.

Myron attended the University of Texas at Austin, and was a member of Phi Sigma Delta fraternity, now Zeta Beta Tau. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in June of 1941. He was in the second year of Law School that year, became 21 years old in November, and War was declared against Japan two weeks later. Having a college degree, he volunteered to join the Navy as an officer. He received his commission as an Ensign in the Naval Reserves, and received orders to report to Notre Dame University for training on the 18th of May 1942, the day of Law School final exams. The Registrar gave him credit for passing grades, leaving one year remaining to complete a Law Degree.

He served on active duty in a number of different positions until the summer of 1946. For about 18 months, he was assigned to the Naval Armory in Detroit as a Personnel Officer, in charge of a group of trainees, and promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. He was reassigned in 1944 to Little Creek, Virginia, to train to be Executive Officer and Navigator of one of a new group of landing ships, each with a complement of six officers and sixty men, designed to sail onto the beaches of various far Pacific Islands, transporting Army personnel and equipment to retrieve the respective Island from possession of the Japanese. When he finally departed for sea duty, he had been promoted to Lieutenant Senior Grade, and assigned as Executive Officer and Chief Navigator of a group of sixteen of the new landing ships that sailed in formation together, for protection, destination the Far Pacific. In 1945, he was reassigned, as Commanding Officer of one of the ships, the USS LSM 423, and was engaged in the Battle of Okinawa, the final, and probably the worst, of all the naval battles of the War. After the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in August 1945, Japan surrendered, and the United States ships occupied various Japanese ports. Myron held the position of Senior Officer Present Afloat (S.O.P.A.) for landing ships, in Nagoya Harbor, about six months before being released to return home.

When released from active duty, Myron returned to the University of Texas, completed the last year of Law School, received a Degree of Bachelor of Laws, and passed the State Bar exam in 1947. He enrolled for another year, excelled in all the accounting courses, and passed the State Certified Public Accounting exam.

On his stepmother’s advice, he drove to Houston to start a civilian career. In a short time, he became an active member of Congregation Beth Israel, served on the Board of Trustees over a twenty-five year period, during which he was Chairman of every committee except the Dues committee, and was Treasurer for two terms. He became an active member of the Jewish Family Service, was a Vice President, and Chairman of the Investment Committee. He was an active member of the Jewish Community Center for a period of years, and was a Vice-President. He became a 32nd Degree Mason, and a Member of the Arabia Temple. He was also a member of Westwood Country Club, where he enjoyed playing tennis on Sunday mornings, and in later years spent time with his family.

After working for a CPA, Myron started in 1950 to build his own firm. In 1951, he formed an accounting partnership, Kobb, Marks & Company, with Sol Kobb. In 1967, with the advent of computers, they merged with another local firm, and formed Bahme Lee Kobb & Marks, with Bernard Lee and Jay Bahme. In 1969, as Houston and their firm grew, they merged with a National CPA Firm, Seidman & Seidman, that had opened offices here. In 1975, Myron was appointed national director of practice development. After merging with a British, a Dutch, and a German firm to become an international firm, Seidman became BDO Seidman, presently BDO USA LLP. In 1986, according to the partnership agreement, the year in which he attained the age of 65, Myron had to retire, after a tenure of 37 years.

Myron loved playing tennis and golf, accumulating stocks, and attending seminars to keep his Law and CPA licenses current. But he needed more to do. His eldest son, Miles, persuaded him to join the Real Estate Brokerage Company, where he was an Agent. After two years, both he and Myron became eligible to take, and passed, the required State test to become Brokers. They started their own Brokerage as Realtors, named Performance Realty. For some twenty-five years, they listed and sold foreclosed properties, primarily for banking institutions, in the six counties that comprise Greater Houston. That business came to an end in the economic downturn of the early 2000s, when hedge funds purchased foreclosures directly from banks. Myron continued being active to some extent, pretty much limited to commercial or undeveloped properties that did not require showings, climbing stairs, or long travel distances.

Above all else, Myron adored and enjoyed his family. In November 1959, he was introduced to the first love of his life, a visitor from Oklahoma City, Norma (Libby) Skalovsky, whom he married the following month. During the next sixteen years, they reared three sons. Although they divorced in 1975, they remained friends and allies the remainder of Myron’s life.

In April of 2003, Myron met the second love of his life, Nancy Frimel Landa. It was love at first sight. They quickly became constant companions, and remained so.

Myron would surely want to thank Ephrain Garcia. M.D., who discovered his prostate cancer in 1998, early enough, and Gehar Zagars, M.D., for treatment to cure it. Other doctors, some deceased, have been of vital importance in preserving and extending Myron’s life, include Sharon Hymes, M.D., Thy Nguyen, M.D., and James Michael Wilson, M.D., cardiologist, about whom Myron claimed to be living proof the doctor knew what he was doing, and Richard Kearns, M.D.

Myron would also want to thank the loving staff at the HCA Houston Healthcare and Cornerstone hospitals, the entire staff at the Belmont Village Hunters Creek, and his caregivers for their care and compassion.

Myron was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Ralph; all his first cousins; and all his uncles and aunts.

He is survived by his sons, Miles Marks, (his children, Sam Marks and Megan Marks), Stuart Marks and his wife, Candace, (their children, Austin Marks and Brandon Marks), and Adam Marks, (his children, Alyssa Marks and Alexis Marks); his sister-in-law, Kayla Marks, and nephew, Tevin Marks; his loving companion, Nancy Frimel Landa; his friend and ally, Norma (Libby) Skalovsky Marks, his former wife and mother of his children, her twin sister, Naomi (Nikki) Skalovsky Singer, her brother, Albert Skalovsky and his wife Shirley of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and numerous nephews and nieces; and former daughter-in-law, Lea Ann Marks of Missouri City, Texas.

An interment service is to be held at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 18th of October, at Congregation Beth Israel Garden, 1101 Antoine Drive in Houston.

A memorial service will follow, at half-past three o’clock at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood Boulevard in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or The American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284 or to The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.