A Memorial Tribute Honoring Wally Marks
SUNDAY, MAY31st
3:30pm
I.M.A.N. CENTER
3376 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles
Parking will be available
Dear Friends,
We would like to invite you to join us in celebrating the legacy of Wally Marks at a special “living participatory memorial event." We will gather to mark the traditional sh'loshim (near the end of the first month of mourning) since Wally’s death. The choice of venue and mode of memorial have been selected by Wally’s loved ones to be consistent with Wally’s modesty and his passion for removing the barriers that too frequently divide peoples. We will gather on Sunday afternoon, May 31, 2009, at the I.M.A.N (Iranian Muslim Association of North America) a mosque and community center at 3376 Motor Avenue in LA, California 90034.
The time of the event will be 3:30pm - 6pm; the program will begin at 4pm.
We express our gratitude to I.M.A.N. for partnering with us to honor Wally in this holy site.
When Wally died on April 13th he was surrounded by his loving family. Several days later a most memorable funeral and Shiva followed and many of you were able to attend. Wally’s family and friends want to create this opportunity, the shloshim, to celebrate Wally's commitments to the world. So many people from all walks of life were touched by Wally and the themes were all the same: peace, justice, democracy, all for the betterment of humanity. Wally was not just a philanthropist; he was a total partner in bringing about change.
Wally's living story created what is often called an "ethical will." It is deposited among us in our individual experiences of what it meant to work with him, and we look forward to sharing its enduring inspiration on May 31st, 2009. It will be a great present to Wally's family, if his friends and activist community would join us at this event. At our memorial gathering, there will be a brief panel of invited speakers to share thoughts. The bulk of our time together will be an opportunity for a small number of Wally’s many partners, like you, to display something about the world of causes that Wally cared about. There will be tables for the various groups connected to Wally, and while this will not be a time to make a pitch for money, it will be an opportunity to invite attendees to discuss issues, to join causes through email lists, to pick up literature, and to engage in conversations. A simple, non-alcoholic reception will take place.
A life such as Wally’s, once ended, must not only be mourned. We must also affirm the unique qualities of human compassion and commitment that he richly possessed and rededicate ourselves to embodying these qualities. We hope you will join us in doing this on May 31st, 2009.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, Rabbi Ken Chasen, Devorah Brous
Your RSVP is a very important part of our coordination. At your earliest convenience, please click on this link to RSVP: MemorialEventForWallyMarks@yahoo.com, or send an email to MemorialEventForWallyMarks@yahoo.com. Please let us know if you'll attend, how many will be with you, and if your organization will be setting up a table. Thank you and please do not hesitate to call us at 310-553-1146 for further information. Parking will be available.