Marion Lewis Aptekar, 103, died Oct. 15, 2015 in Portland, Ore.
Mrs. Aptekar was born in Garfield, N.J. Her family moved to Detroit when she was 4 years old. She was confirmed at Temple Beth El in 1926 and graduated from Northern High School in 1930. In 1934, she married David Aptekar. In 1941, they helped form Temple Israel, where Mrs. Aptekar remained a member for 72 years. In 1949, she and her husband purchased and ran North Star Camp in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Two years later, her husband died and Mrs. Aptekar went to work as a secretary at Center Electric Supply Company. In 1971, at the age of 59, she joined her son and grandson to march in the anti-war National Peace Rally on the Mall in Washington, D.C. In 1977, after she retired, Mrs. Aptekar opened Iron Dog Antiques in Southfield, Mich. In 1982, she moved to Tucson, joining her sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Bill Rubin. She was an active member of the Brandeis University Book Group and, after a trip to Israel, joined the Tucson Chapter of ORT where she was elected as an officer. At age 95, she moved to Portland to be closer to her son and grandson. In 2012, four generations of the Aptekar family reunited in Portland to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Mrs. Aptekar was preceded in death by her husband, David, and sister, Sylvia Rubin. Survivors include her children, Robert (Judy Wilkins) Aptekar of Portland and Lewis Aptekar of Gilroy, Calif.; and four grandchildren.
Honoring her wishes, no services will be held.
Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Israel (https://temple-israel.org) in Detroit or the staff of Cedar Sinai Park (cedarsinaipark.org) in Portland.
