Marcia Saslow's Obituary
Marcia Pohl Saslow, 84 years old of Sunrise Florida and formerly of Long Beach, New York died November 22nd after an extended battle with cancer. Marcia was the daughter of the late Max and Mitzie Pohl and the beloved wife of the late Martin Saslow.
She was the cherished mother of Debi Arcarese (nee Saslow) and William Arcarese, William Saslow and Michelle (nee DaPonte). Marcia was the loving grandmother of Michael Jacome, Amanda Jacome (nee O’Meara), and the late Joseph Jacome III, and adored Bubbie of Devin Ahearn, Kayden Jacome, and Joselyn Jacome.
Marcia was born in 1937 in the Bronx borough of New York. An only child, Marcia was doted upon by her parents, Max and Mitzie Pohl, and her Aunt Anne Berman. Her childhood years would bring her to Coney Island and the Bronx, a launching pad to museums, zoos, and Broadway. She was a good friend, had good friends, and would say she lived a delicious life filled with adventure.
Her father Max worked in the millinery industry, making women’s hats, a business on the precipice of fashion at the time. As his business waned, Marcia moved with her family to Coney Island during her second through fourth years and she remembered being happy there. At the age of 4, Marcia and her family moved back to the Bronx. She mentioned the contrast between living in a big city and in a neighborhood which felt like a small-town “Shtetl” where everyone knew everyone. Doors and windows were kept open on hot summer days from one apartment to the next to allow cross ventilation. Often whole families would bring wooden folding chairs onto the roof to get some air and chat while Marcia and her friends played jacks and lay down to sleep on blankets.
During the war years, Marcia remembered children wearing plastic tags around their necks with their blood type on it. In 1945, she recalled neighbors crying because President Roosevelt had died. Her Mom was very busy during the war years selling bonds, attending rallies, and writing letters for servicemen at the Kingsbridge Veterans hospital. Marcia had a good role model for what a strong woman could do.
After the war years, her father’s millinery business failed, and her mother joined the workforce to make ends meet. Marcia was a latch-key child, but there was always someone around for her, whether friends of the family in their apartment building or Aunt Anne, a block away. One of her mom’s greatest pleasures was reading, and Marcia developed a lifelong passion for reading as well. She had many friends, took trains and buses into the city to see shows, sometimes walking over the Washington bridge.
Marcia never forgot the hot summers in the Bronx. As soon as school ended, it was off to Far Rockaway where they shared a bungalow with another family and her parents commuted daily from work.
It was during one of those summers that Marcia met Marty, the love of her life, at a wedding and at another family friends’ event. In August of that same summer, they were engaged and they married in December of 1957.
By 1960, Marcia and Marty were living in New Brunswick, New Jersey where their first child Debbie was born. Marty’s work took him to Cleveland, Ohio where their second child Bill was born in 1962. By 1963, Marcia and Marty were living in Far Rockaway. Summers at the beach with the children were terrific and whole days were spent there. By 1969, the family moved to Murfreesboro Tennessee where Marcia became a brownie leader. By 1970, the family had moved back to Long Beach, New York, where she reentered the work force after both children were in school. Eventually when her children were a bit older, Marcia began to commute into Manhattan for a job at the Anesthesiology Review and Orthopedic Review magazines. She loved working in the city, not as much, the commute. In 1986, Marcia and Marty moved to Sunrise, Florida. Marcia loved working at Books-A-Million at the Sawgrass Mall and kept working there well into her 70’s. She loved books, was very knowledgeable, and was the star of customer service. The younger workers adored her as she was always so friendly and helpful. Later. Marcia volunteered at the library and a local school where she read stories to the children. Her love of books was infectious, and the children loved her.
Marcia’s joy for life extended to travel and she was an enthusiastic traveler to places near and far, from trips to the west coast of Florida and the Caribbean to Italy and Switzerland. She had a spirit of adventure which made her a great traveling companion.
Marcia would say she lived a delicious life, filled with interesting people, places, and books - always books. She was a person, who exuded positive energy, was always exploring. Marcia will live on in the hearts of those fortunate to have known her.
The following is the service Celebrating the Life of Marcia held on December 2, 2021.
Life is a Journey by Rabbi Alvin Fine
Birth is a beginning
And death a destination
And life is a journey:
From childhood to maturity
And youth to age;
From innocence to awareness
And ignorance to knowing;
From foolishness to discretion
And then perhaps to wisdom.
From weakness to strength or
From strength to weakness
And often back again;
From health to sickness,
And we pray to health again.
From offence to forgiveness,
From loneliness to love,
From joy to gratitude,
From pain to compassion,
From grief to understanding,
From fear to faith.
From defeat to defeat to defeat
Until, not looking backwards or ahead,
We see that victory lies not
At some high point along the way
But in having made the journey
Step by step,
A sacred pilgrimage.
Birth is a beginning
And death a destination
And life is a journey
Gathering Song: Hosea
Come back to me, with all your heart
Don’t let fear, keep us apart.
Trees do bend, though straight and tall
So must we, to others call.
Long have I waited for your coming
home to me and living
deeply our new life.
You shall sleep, secure with peace
Faithfulness will be your joy.
Psalm 16
Leader: Keep me safe, O God; in you I take refuge.
say to the LORD, you are my Lord, you are my only good.
All: As for the holy ones who are in the land, they are noble, in whom is all
my delight. They multiply their sorrows who court other gods.
Leader: Bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me.
keep the LORD always before me; with him at my right hand, I
shall never be shaken.
All: Therefore, my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure,
for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let your devout one see the
pit.
Leader: You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
Song: On Eagle’s Wings
And He will raise you up on eagles' wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand
Forgiving and Requesting Forgiveness
Remarks of Remembrance: William Saslow
Kel Molay Rachamim
Closing Song: Amazing Grace
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
What’s your fondest memory of Marcia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marcia?
Share a story where Marcia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marcia you’ll never forget.
How did Marcia make you smile?
