October 8, 1925–September 17, 2014
Marian Lyle Rivkin Zak, age 88, of Mercer Island, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 17, 2014. She was born on October 8, 1925 to William Herbert Rivkin and Minnie Sentner of Seattle. Marian was the oldest of four siblings who all grew up in Seattle and attended Garfield High School.
After graduating from Garfield, Marian attended the University of Washington, but left her studies during World War II to work for Boeing.
Many of the Jewish community from Seattle would vacation at Soap Lake in Eastern Washington, and it was there that she was introduced to her future husband. On June 26, 1949, Marian married Marvin Zak, a pharmacist. Soon after they moved to Mercer Island to raise their three children. When the children were in school, Marian immersed herself in the Jewish community, becoming president of the Eastside chapter of Hadassah. Her life was spent in giving her time, her skills, her compassion, and her caring for family and her many friends.
At age 79, Marian was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and underwent experimental treatment orchestrated by her brother, Dr. Saul Rivkin, well known as a pioneer in the treatment of this disease. Amazingly, she survived and went on to live another ten years. This gift of a decade of life enabled her to witness both her granddaughters graduate from university and take rides in an airplane that one of them piloted.
Marian was preceded in death by one sister, Jeanette Duchin, and her husband of 55 years, Marvin Zak. She is survived by her sister, Shirley DiFrancisco; brother Saul Rivkin, M.D.; her three children Jonathan Zak (Bev True); Karen Zak; Daniel Zak (Louise Zak); and granddaughters, Hanne Zak, Ariel Zak and Denise True.
Marian was a vigorous, gutsy woman who maintained Jewish customs and traditions in her home and stood up for women’s rights. She traveled extensively with her husband, visiting four continents. She never shied away from taking the plunge, whether it be on a boat to Antarctica, or putting herself on Facebook in her 80s to keep up with the newer generation. She loved to garden and took pleasure in the beauty of nature. Until her last few years, she would walk and swim daily at the Bellevue YMCA and go hiking with her family.
A week before her death she spent a beautiful sunny day quietly sitting at Sunrise, enjoying the view of Mt. Rainier and, undoubtedly, treasuring the memories of many days spent amidst wildflowers, green meadows, valleys and rivers within the mountains.
The Zak family would like to thank everyone who attended her memorial ceremony.
Remembrances may be sent to Hadassah or the Marsha Rivkin Cancer Center, 801 Broadway #701, Seattle, Washington 98122.
Burial was at Herzl Cemetery in Shoreline on Friday, September 19, 2014.