Private funeral services and burial are 10:30am on Tuesday, March 30. Those wishing to attend the service virtually may access the Zoom webinar livestream at the link below:
Zoom Webinar Livestream (no interactive feature, no password required)
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Time
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87596014848
Community Leader and Former Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand:
January 3, 1940- March 25, 2021
Phyllis Marchand, former Princeton Township elected official for a record breaking 22 years (1987-2009), former mayor for 14 of those years, former marathon runner (16 NYC Marathons, two Boston, one, Philadelphia), former book indexer of The Woodrow Wilson Papers edited by Princeton University Professor Arthur Link, and never former but forever friend for life to thousands of people, died at home on Thursday, March 25, 2021.
She was 81 years old and lived every minute of her life with exuberance, flair, dignity, perseverance, and dedication to helping family, friends, and countless people she never knew. She survived more than 15 years of cancer treatment for her CTCL lymphoma, non Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and lymphoma, because there were just too many things to do for others, too many events to attend. Dubbed “mayor for life” and known for her inability to leave any event, Phyllis finally said goodbye in the presence of her immediate family, her much loved husband of 57 years Lucien Simon “Sy” Marchand, and her three children, Michael, Deborah, and Sarah.
The New York City native and graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Phyllis Marchand, nee Steinberg, was born on January 3, 1940. Her father was a millinery manufacturer and owned a company in Manhattan. ‘Phyllis’ and ‘Charlotte’ (the name of Phyllis’s mother as well as one of her grandchildren) hats were two of their labels. He was also a big sports fan, especially for the New York Giants baseball team, and he got Phyllis hooked on her love of baseball. It was also because of her Manhattan-based youth that she developed her passion for live theater and movies.Growing up in New York City offered her a cultural and social education, as well as a self sufficiency, that she carried with her her entire life.
After graduation as an English major and with a teaching certificate, she worked in Manhattan in the publishing industry and then met, fell in love with and married Sy Marchand, who worked for D. Van Nostrand Publishing in Princeton
She first set foot on Princeton soil in 1966 and then proceeded to leave an indelible footprint as a local government mover and shaker and omnipresent community volunteer and advocate. She credited the Princeton YWCA Newcomers Club for welcoming her to town and giving her the social footing that allowed her to thrive.
At the time of her death she was chair of D&R Greenway Board of Trustees and maintained active roles in several other Princeton area organizations where she over the years had held leadership offices. These included: Princeton YWCA (especially the Breast Cancer Resource Center and the Newcomers’ Club); McCarter Theatre; HomeFront; Planned Parenthood; Coalition for Peace Action; D & R Canal Commission; Princeton-Pettoranello Sister City Foundation; New Jersey League of Municipalities (particularly its Women in Government Committee); Mercer Council for Alcohol and Drug Addiction; Corner House; Princeton Garden Theatre; Jewish Center of Princeton; Cancer Care; and the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Not one to accept passively a negative in her life, she turned her health challenges into a proactive research and communications role among organizations supporting those with lymphoma.
Her son noted that his mother’s advocacy for and “exceptional commitment to” land preservation, both as mayor and a D&R Greenway board member, was particularly valued in this last year of her life. The pandemic made people appreciate more passionately than ever before the tracts of land she helped to protect and preserve and the hiking trails she helped create.
“Going back to the late 1990s when we worked together to protect Greenway Meadows and the land that is now home to the Johnson Education Center, Phyllis has been extraordinary in her commitment to land preservation,” said D&R Greenway President & CEO Linda Mead.
In May 2020, when interviewed by her granddaughter Estelle for a school StoryCorps project, Phyllis noted that her most treasured accomplishment in life was that of being a mother and grandmother. And she certainly lived her life by the advice that she gave Estelle in that interview: “seize the moment, follow your passions, don’t give into excuses about it ‘not being a good time’ ….You may never find that opportunity again,” said Phyllis.
In addition to “seizing each day,” she often told friends and family that she considered “everyday as a gift to live life to the fullest.” In spite of her multiple commitments to community causes and the members of her family, she still found time to indulge in playing bridge, going to the movies, seeing as many NY Mets baseball games in person and on television as possible, and sharing her coffee chip ice cream with friends.
For more information about her remarkable life see: http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/2013/02/13/running-for-office-or-running-marathons-phyllis-marchand-is-an-active-participant/
She is survived by: her three children, Michael (Beth) of Olympia Washington; Deborah (David Goldman) of Haddonfield, New Jersey; and Sarah (David Lefkowitz) Darien, Connecticut; as well as her eight grandchildren, Gabriel, Charlotte, Maxwell, Estelle, Alexander, Miles, Oliver and Genevieve.
To honor the life of Phyllis Marchand, donations may be made to the following:
Marchand Espir Family Holocaust Education Fund at the Princeton Jewish Center (Holocaust education programs to ensure that the events of the Holocaust will not be forgotten or repeated)
https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=f6262a
D&R Greeenway
(Preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic)
https://secure.donationpay.org/drgreenway/
Homefront
(Help to end homelessness in central New Jersey) https://www.homefrontnj.org/donate/
Under the arrangements of Orlands Ewing Memorial Chapel, there will be a family only graveside service on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
We will all miss her and her wonderful smile as well as all of her her years of service to our community.
Phyllis was a force nature fully engaged in life. She will be missed!
A huge loss for this community
If heaven exists, I have no doubt that Phyllis is there right now organizing
all the Democrats! She personified energy and committment , always with a big smile on her face. We served together on the Advisory Committee of Womanspace in Mercer County, but I first met Phyllis when we carpooled our kids to Sunday School at the Jewish Center over 40 years ago. This is a huge loss for Sy, Michael, Debbie, and Sarah and all the Altmans send our deepest and most sincere condolences.
Sy,
I first met Phyllis when I was about 12 years old, many decades ago. I remember very clearly how warm and attentive she was to me – much more than most adults. It had nothing to do with politics or community. It was just simple generosity, behind the scenes. She was equally welcoming and endearing when we moved to Princeton. One delight in being in Princeton is seeing Phyllis periodically, always energetic, enthusiastic, with lots to say. Deepest condolences to you and the family.
Stewart and Karen
I have such happy memories of Phyllis. She married us, sort of.
My second husband and I went to town hall for our wedding license in September 2001 in preparation for our October 7th wedding. We understood that they would send it to us. Daphne Hawkes who was to marry us called on Friday and said to be sure and bring our license with us to the wedding on Sunday. We said we didn’t have it yet. She said fine, when it comes next week I’ll just date it then.
Well it didn’t come and it didn’t come. We were about to leave for Italy for our honeymoon on the 20th of October. I finally called town hall and asked where it was. The voice on the other end of the line said, “You were suppose to pick that up. You aren’t married yet are you?” I replied, “Yes”. “No you aren’t” she replied. “You’ll have to get married again.”
I called Phyllis in a panic. She said to come in and she would marry us. It was October 19th. We arrived with dear friends as witnesses and champagne. We removed our wedding rings. Phyllis, in a leg cast, married us and we reattached our rings and drank champagne. Phyllis had the clerk write on the wedding license, “Married on this day the 7th AND the 19th of October.” I’ll love Phyllis forever for that and for so much more.
Liz Fillo
I have known Phyllis for many years, but our actual times together were occasional and brief. And yet, like so many others, I feel an enormous loss. Phyllis was such a very decent, loving and giving person – a genuine mensch. I will miss her, but I will always remember her.
I met Sy and Phyllis at McCarter, where my husband, David York, worked for many years. Every opening night we attended was not complete without talking with Phyllis and Sy. Phyllis was busy for the entire reception, which gave us the opportunity to get to know Sy better. We had a lot to talk about – the city, politics, theater, Phyllis – and it was always a pleasure.
Sy, we send you our deepest condolences. Phyllis lived a life of great integrity, involving herself with the causes she cared deeply about and was a model of how to live a life. She always had the time for what was important to her, and she was an inspiration, always. The world is poorer without her energy, commitment and passion.
Fond regards, Ellen Sorrin and David York
Phyllis was such a lovely, kind, and dynamic presence at any event she attended, including our own parties. We will greatly miss having her illuminate our gatherings with her zest for life, as well as her impactful contribution to our community.
She performed my wedding ceremony in 2008, what a wonderful lady. A genuine class act who would go above and beyond for anyone she met. The world is a better place for her having been part of it, and she will be missed.