Barely two weeks after the death of her husband of 72 years, Benjamin D. Kuntz, Marlene Becker Kuntz passed away on Monday, Aug. 19. She was 91.
A native of Washington, D.C., who lived most of her life in the Baltimore area, Marlene Kuntz, along with her husband, was a local Jewish community leader and philanthropist who held various leadership roles at The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.
As a youngster, Kuntz attended Camp Louise in Western Maryland — as a camper and later as a counselor — and forged many close friendships that lasted her entire life. She attended Camp Louise reunions well into her 80s.
She met her future husband, a Baltimore native whose family owned the American Office furniture business, while both attended the University of Maryland, College Park. She did not graduate from College Park but returned to school after having four children, and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in speech and language pathology and audiology.
For many years, Kuntz worked in the Baltimore City school system and at Loyola College. “Her love of learning never diminished; auditing classes at Florida Atlantic University after she retired,” her family wrote in a tribute on the Sol Levinson & Bros. website.
While her husband was The Associated’s president and campaign chair in the 1990s, Kuntz served in a variety of posts at the federation, including as chair of the Women’s Campaign in 1992 and president of the Women’s Division from 1997-1999
In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling, golf, mahjong and reading.
“Marlene and Ben had an extensive circle of friends and loved spending time with them in Maryland, Florida, and wherever their travels took them,” her family wrote. “But the devotion to her family, her greatest joy, was paramount throughout her entire life. Marlene was so proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, calling them weekly to connect and stay up to date.”
She is survived by her children, David (Lisa) Kuntz, Debra (Jon) Waranch, Dr. Richard (Odalis) Kuntz and Michael (Debra) Kuntz; grandchildren, Jennifer (Geoff) McDonald, Micah (Amy) Kuntz, Samantha Kuntz (Asa Kurland), Dr. Danielle Waranch (Steve Bilenky), Joshua (Ellen) Waranch, Allison (Mike) Kafka, Oliver (Caroline) Kuntz, Erin Kuntz, Taylor Kuntz and Kendall Kuntz, and 17 great-grandchildren; and sister, Judith (Len) White;
Kuntz was predeceased by her husband and parents, Miriam and Dr. Samuel M. Becker.
Funeral services will be held at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville, on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m. Interment will be at Beth El Memorial Park, 9801 Liberty Road in Randallstown.
Contributions in her memory may be sent to The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, 5700 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215 or Beth El Congregation, 8101 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville, Maryland 21208.
The family will sit shiva at Woodholme Country Club, 300 Woodholme Avenue in Pikesville, on Thursday following interment, with a service at 7 p.m.
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