David Marell

David Marell, 74, of Glenford, New York, died Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at his home, surrounded by his family and friends. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he was son of the late Irving Marell and Marcia Gershman Marell. David moved to Brooklyn, New York with his parents and two brothers as an infant. He spent his first year of college freezing at Hamlin University, then transferred to NYU, which is where he met his lifelong partner, Patricia Mitchell, in a required math class. He graduated from NYU with a degree in business and later studied art at Pratt Institute. Patricia and David moved to Woodstock in 1974 where they raised first chickens and goats and soon after, their two daughters, Gabrielle and Emily. In the early years, David taught 3rd grade in the Kingston schools and then was an art teacher in that district.

David was a passionate member of the Woodstock Land Conservancy and he helped to maintain the trails and plan new ones. He was the long time President of the Woodstock Tennis Club and for many years helped to organize and run the soup kitchen in town. Together with his wife, Patricia, David put much of his energy toward helping to nourish the community of Woodstock and contribute to its vitality. David loved the outdoors and he regularly and throughout the seasons reveled in the beauty of the Hudson Valley, kayaking, cross-country skiing and hiking Overlook Mountain.

Throughout his life, David was also devoted to the practice of making art. He published two books, Be Generous: 101 Meditations and Suggestions to Get You Through the Day and Night (Conari Press, 2003) and a book of short stories, Only Human (Blue Thread, 2018). He showed his art at the annual Byrdcliffe 5 by 7 show. Following a trip where he helped to bring clean water to a small village in Kenya, David went on safari and while there sketched the animals, which, with the help of his friend, Deborah Freedman and Vandeb Editions, became a series of portrait etchings, “On the Mara” (2012).

He died due to complications related to a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in late 2017. Steward of the land and a kind and generous man, his memory is a blessing to all living persons, plants, and animals who knew him or crossed his path.

David is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patricia Mitchell of Glenford, two daughters, Gabrielle Mitchell-Marell and her husband, Adam Gerzoff of Glendale, California, Emily Mitchell-Marell and her husband Ben Umanov of Brooklyn, a brother, James Marell of White Plains, two grandchildren, Hudson Gerzoff and Maximus Umanov. He was preceded in death by his brother Bruce Marell.

The funeral service was held on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation, with Rabbi Jonathan Kligler officiating. Donations can be made in honor of David to Family of Woodstock www.familyofwoodstock.org