Marilyn Roxin Stern
March 12, 1949 - January 18, 2025

Marilyn Roxin Stern of Squirrel Hill passed away on Saturday 1/18/2025 at the age of 75. She is survived by her children Matthew (Leigh) Stern and Melissa (Mark) Stern Sutcliffe and her sister Ellen (Dennis) Fick. She was the beloved grandmother of Ida Stern, Abby Stern, Moses Sutcliffe, Lilith Sutcliffe, and the late Max Ezra Sutcliffe. She was cherished by her many cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends and other family. 

Born on March 12, 1949, Marilyn’s life was filled with passion and love for her family, her ardor for learning, and her dedication to her work. She has multiple advanced degrees in Broadcasting & Film and English and Drama from Boston University and Boston College. In addition to her formal degree education, Marilyn had an extensive education in Music. She trained at the Hochstein School of Music in Rochester, New York and was later accepted into the Preparatory Department of the Eastman School of Music, one of the foremost music conservatories in the world, after which she continued her studies in voice and piano when she was in college and graduate school. Marilyn loved the theater, but her decision to teach was one which she openly admitted was so she could be the mother she wanted to be for her children, as the stage wasn’t conducive to such endeavors.

Marilyn taught at Wentworth Institute of Technology for well over 30 years, achieving the rank of Professor of English/Humanities and serving as Academic Department Head and Professor of English from 1996 to 2001. She gave more than an education to her students, who were often found at her home for holidays when they were students, and when they returned years later to spend time with the educator who had left an indelible mark on their lives. She was a passionate orator and her love for reading, Shakespeare, and inspiring critical thinking could only be rivaled by the love for her children and grandchildren. She published her research and presented at conferences even once she had officially retired in 2017.

While Marilyn chose a career that allowed her to be the parent and community member that she wanted to be, she never stopped singing. She sang professionally at the Artists International Opera Company and Providence Opera Company, performing in operas such as Sampson & Delilah and Faust. Her CV is littered with individual performances at fundraisers and Sisterhood Shabbat events over the forty years she lived in the Boston Area, and she was a proud member of the Zamir Chorale from 1973 to 1979.

Marilyn’s last public performance was at the wedding of her daughter Melissa, and she sang to her grandchildren every time she saw them. She was passion incarnate, a soldier of love and learning, a disciple of generosity and selflessness. She was the essence of what it means to be good, to be kind, and to be human.

Funeral service will be held Monday, January 20, 2025, at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., Shadyside, with no visitation. Interment to follow at Beth Shalom Cemetery, Shaler Twp. Contributions in Marilyn’s honor can be made to Reproductive Freedom For All (https://reproductivefreedomforall.org/)

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