Wally Marks, An Exemplary Life
Wally Marks was born in Los Angeles and raised in Beverly Hills. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees at Stanford University in 1952 and 1954 respectively, and inherited the real estate firm that had created the Santa Monica Mall. Wally helped to transform the Mall into the 3rd Street Promenade and developed the former Helms Bakery site into a showcase for furniture and antiques. These and other developments, which uplifted the quality of life, prosperity and civic vitality of several neighborhoods, enabled Wally to seek out and fund organizations that would allow him to share his good fortune further.
Walter (Wally) Nathan Marks Jr. was born on, very fittingly, on July 4, 1930, the son of the successful real estate developer Walter Marks and the former Doris Weinberger. He grew up in Beverly Hills, California. There he met the philanthropist Jean Sieroty, who, along with her son, State Senator Alan Sieroty, would be major influences on Wally’s development and character.
After earning his bachelor’s and law degrees from Stanford University, Wally served in the army for two years. After working for a year as a lawyer, Wally joined, and would eventually inherit, his father’s real estate business. Through Wally’s acumen, the business grew. The Santa Monica Mall, which his father had developed, transformed, through Wally’s efforts into the 3rd Street Promenade. The former Helms Bakery site was developed, through Wally’s acumen and hard work, into a vibrant showcase for home furnishings and antiques, along such community-based non-profits as The Jazz Bakery, which Wally helped to grow into a venue for fine music and a conservatory where neighborhood youth are trained as musicians.
Wally was an active and eager citizen of the world. For as long as his health permitted, he traveled to the Middle East, to other part of Asia and throughout this country as well. Although his wealth had given him the option to surround himself with luxury, he chose to educate himself to the situation of people who lived in very different circumstances. He met with people who had lost loved ones to war and who struggled with poverty. At home and abroad, he conferred often with clergy people, activists and policy makers, always asking questions; not only about immediate needs and problems, but about deep causes and transformative solutions. He was an active congregant of Leo Baeck Temple, a congregation noted for its commitment to social justice.
Wally donated generously to such diverse organizations as the Venice Family Clinic; the Progressive Jewish Alliance; Americans for Peace Now; LA Jews for Peace; and the making of “Holy Land, Common Ground,” a film by Ed Gaffney and Alicia Dwyer, documenting the stories and mutual dialogue of Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land.
Wally is survived by his wife of 50 years, Suzy; his son, Walter Marks IIII; his three daughters, Laurie Wagner, Wendy Miller and Amanda Rondash; his 10 grandchildren; and his sister, Marlene Louchheim.