Marvin Sussman

Marvin Sussman passed away in Elmhurst, surrounded by family. He was born in Chicago in 1923, and spent his entire life in Chicago except for his four years of military service in WWII; Marvin was the beloved husband of the late Miguelle, nee Gentry for 64 years; loving father of Marc (Mary), Michel (Sandy), and Mathieu (Marie) Sussman; proud grandfather of Aaron, Lauren, Daniel, and Jillian; uncle of Gail (Steve Miller) Sussman-Miller and Sandra (Ron Schnur) Sussman, two nieces that he loved dearly; cherished son of the late Simon and the late Esther, nee Levine, Sussman; dear brother of the late Norman and Eleanor Sussman. Marvin grew up on the west side of Chicago as a child of the Depression. He was a graduate of John Marshall High School (‘41). Along with his brothers in arms of the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (A-Troop), fought on D-Day at Utah beach, the Hurtgen Forest and Battle of the Bulge to name a few. He was a troop translator in both French and German. He came back home to Chicago in 1946. He met and married the love of his life, a French woman named Miguelle, in 1954. Together they raised three children in East Rogers Park and lived in that home for more than 45 years. He was very active in the community – schools, ward/precinct affairs, and youth football teams. He received degrees in electrical engineering (1952) and mathematics (1959) from the Illinois Institute of Technology and worked in the agricultural and automotive Industry for International Harvester and Borg-Warner. In the 1960s he was very active in the anti-war movement in Chicago as he believed in the prevention of war. After he retired in 1988, he and Miguelle spent the next 15 years enjoying six months each year living in Miguelle’s childhood home just south of Paris. At the age of 93, he began his career in storytelling, actively engaging in the Elmhurst schools, where his grandchildren were enrolled, providing speeches and lectures on life during the Depression and as a WWII veteran. His stories were compiled into his book Breaking My Silence and recorded in his own voice in a one-man show at a local Chicago theater. Marvin was a highly educated, well read, and multi-lingual intellectual, who had a high degree of empathy for all people. He was generous with his time and advice to help all those who sought it or needed it. Visitation Saturday, June 25 at 9 a.m. until time of service 11 a.m. at Gibbons Funeral Home, 134 South York Road, Elmhurst. Livestream of service available through funeral home website. For funeral information, please call 630-832-0018 or visit www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com.