Community leaders recently shared tributes to Marc B. Terrill, who is retiring from The Associated after more than two decades of leading the local Jewish federation.
‘Changed Lives for the Better‘
“Marc Terrill poured so much of himself into the Baltimore Jewish community. He leaves a tremendous legacy firmly rooted in tikkun olam. His work and dedication have changed lives for the better.”
“Whenever there was a crisis, including the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Ben knew he could call Marc to see how the Jewish community might respond and support those in need.”
“Myrna appreciated the encouragement and support she received as a community leader advocating for the agencies that are the fabric of our Jewish community. Together, they always found a willing partner in Marc.”
“We both always look with great pride to the success of The Associated in taking care of the people in our community, increasing Jewish awareness and, of course, a tremendously successful campaign, which creates a solid foundation for such wide-ranging programs and outreach.”
“We thank Marc for all his work to make this happen, and we know his heart will always be with The Associated and our beautiful Jewish community.”
— Sen. Ben and Myrna Cardin
‘A Strong Sense of Mitzvah‘
“Marc had big shoes to fill when he came to town to take on the head role at the federation. He not only filled those shoes with ease, but expanded the role and helped to guide Baltimore’s Jewish community during his tenure.
“Marc is smart, keeps his finger on the pulse of both Baltimore and the Jewish world writ large, has a strong sense of mitzvah, of what it means to do right and to improve the community, Israel and the world. He has been a tireless worker, and a mentsch of the first order.
“Every rabbi in the community knows that Marc is there if you need him at the drop of a hat. The community is better and stronger because of the work he has done.
“But most importantly of all Marc is a gentleman and all-around good guy, and a deeply devoted family man, a loving husband and father. Baltimore’s Jewish community will miss him and will not be the same without him!”
— Rabbi Steve Schwartz
Beth El Congregation
‘Adaptable, Ambitious, Collaborative …‘
“There are many words to describe an impeccable leader. When I think of Marc Terrill, the following words come to mind; adaptable, ambitious, collaborative, dedicated, diligent, forward-thinking, intelligent, persuasive, resilient, strategic and trusting. Marc has demonstrated his ability to utilize these skills in his relationship with staff, lay leaders, donors and partners in and outside of the Jewish community enabling him to create a strong and vibrant Associated system.
“I have worked with Marc since he became president of The Associated in 2003 and it has been my good fortune to experience his leadership. Marc is a strong partner who has cultivated relationships with the agencies. He truly values the importance of the collaborative advantage of agencies working together rather than as competitors. In our work together Marc has always demonstrated an understanding of Jewish Community Services’ programs and services and the impact on the populations that we serve. His keen understanding of the critical nature of our work has enabled him to be an outstanding connector for myself and JCS that has led to several partnerships inside and outside of the Jewish community. Additionally, he has always kept the needs of the community and our services in the forefront when meeting with donors, which has led to many funding opportunities that has sustained the work of several JCS initiatives. I can personally say Marc is a good listener and trusted colleague, all characteristics that have made our partnership work successfully for so many years.
“One of Marc’s greatest legacies is strategic planning and success of maintaining a centralized federation system. This system is coveted across the country as it no longer exists in any federation. It has been through Marc’s cultivation of meaningful partnerships with donors and foundations that resources to sustain the system have remained in place. Marc’s other legacy is his passion for justice, the Jewish people and uplifting humanity, which has guided the vision of The Associated to support causes both in Baltimore and abroad. Marc has truly had an impact on both Jewish Baltimore and the greater Baltimore area that will remain vibrant after he leaves the system to pursue his next chapter. We appreciate Marc and all he has contributed over these 20-plus years.”
— Joan Grayson Cohen,
Executive Director, Jewish Community Services
‘All about Fostering Relationships‘
“I have known Marc Terrill for more than 30 years, long before he became president and chief executive at The Associated. In fact, I used to refer to him as the ‘teenager’ who led our family mission to Israel in 1991, soon after the death of my husband, Harold Goldsmith. My son, my parents, and Harold’s mother and sister were all on the mission as we dedicated a synagogue in Kfar Saba in Harold’s name.
“The young Marc Terrill made quite an impression as a leader and a mentsch. He called my father ‘rabbi’ throughout the trip after my dad was given the honor of leading the prayers at dinner one evening, a nickname my father cherished for the rest of his life. Marc made a big impression then, even as a very young Jewish professional, because he was always all about fostering relationships.
“I was living in Colorado when Marc returned to Baltimore from his years in executive leadership in Boston to become our President and Chief Executive. I returned to live in Baltimore in 2006, and The Associated immediately became home for me again.
“Working with Marc has been a privilege and a wonderful learning experience. He is always able to see the forest, without ever losing sight of each and every tree. He is a consummate planner, an excellent judge of character, and exudes a warmth that makes it clear how much he truly cares. He has shepherded me lovingly through new and challenging roles at The Associated. I call him ‘Captain’ and he calls me ‘Madame Queen.’ Coworkers, friends, and an honest and trusted ear … all descriptive, while not being quite enough to truly capture all he is and what he means to me and to our community.
“He has led The Associated and the Baltimore Jewish community through countless crises, memorable accomplishments and glorious celebrations. He has prepared us to face the future with hope and pride, and has left his own indelible mark on who we are and who we are yet to become.”
— Beth H. Goldsmith,
Past Chair of The Associated
‘A True Partner and Collaborator‘
“The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is deeply grateful to Marc Terrill for his steadfast leadership of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and his dedication to sustaining our century-plus partnership devoted to fulfilling the Jewish community’s responsibility for the most vulnerable Jews, wherever they may be. Thanks to Marc’s vision and commitment to our shared efforts, several Baltimore Jewish leaders have served on the JDC Board, strengthening our organization and expanding JDC’s ties to the local community.
“Marc is a true partner and collaborator, and this is reflected in the strong and longstanding commitment of The Associated to the cities of Odessa and Ashkelon, where JDC works to provide lifesaving tangible and moral support. Our immense thanks to Marc for his dedication to Jewish communal service and Klal Yisrael.”
— Ariel Zwang
Chief Executive Officer, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
‘Blazed a Trail‘
“Marc and I have had a friendship and close working relationship for many years now. He is an exceptional leader — thoughtful, high-energy, honest. He has great knowledge and great love for the community.
“Marc blazed a trail, increasing the impact and the visibility of The Associated. In my opinion, The Associated is the gold standard in terms of its working to create a world of good.
“Throughout the years, Marc and I were always looking for opportunities to have our organizations collaborate, believing that we could have an even greater impact working together than alone on some issues.”
— William J. McCarthy Jr.
Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Maryland
‘Our First Call‘
“M&T Bank and The Associated share a common goal — to make a difference in people’s lives. Like the Associated under Marc Terrill’s leadership, M&T does this through deeply embedding ourselves in the communities we serve. Marc has been an integral part of helping us deliver on our purpose during his 21 years leading The Associated through his tireless efforts bringing together communities throughout the city on topics ranging from neighborhood revitalization to advocacy to celebrating Jewish culture.
“The effectiveness of Marc and his team’s work is why The Associated is our first call when we want to collaborate and volunteer in support of our Greater Baltimore community. We entrusted The Associated with financial resources to support its work combating antisemitism, and they have helped us navigate how we support our M&T colleagues, customers, and friends who were impacted by the war in Israel. M&T and CHAI have also partnered to support homeownership in Northwest Baltimore which speaks to Marc’s ability to bring people together.
“For M&T, the most significant legacy that Marc leaves behind is the values he has instilled in our colleagues—several of whom are graduates of The Associated’s Young Leadership Council. The skills that they learned and honed in YLC and other leadership positions they’ve held within The Associated have strengthened their contributions to M&T. Along with becoming founding members of M&T Bank’s Jewish Cultural Group, these leaders continue to work closely with The Associated and its vital agencies to further the important work of ensuring that we never stop caring about each other.
“I will certainly miss Marc’s guidance and advocacy but we will continue to build upon the legacy he has created and together with The Associated, make a positive difference in Baltimore.”
— Augie Chiasera
M&T Bank Regional President for Greater Baltimore
‘Relationship before Task‘
“It really is impossible to capture the full measure of what Marc Terrill has done for this community over so many years. For me, Pearlstone and the Baltimore Jewish community have been our family’s home for the past 18 years, and at the core of that journey and success story is Marc’s visionary leadership, faith in us, and mentorship and support for me personally and professionally.
“From my entry point as a new Jewish communal professional until today, Marc has modeled and shown me — and so many others — what it means to lead and love the Jewish people. Marc embodies the adage ‘relationship before task.’ I strive to follow his way of investing every day in authentic relationships with all our key stakeholders — from participants to staff to board to donors — and to especially prioritize genuine, robust lay-pro collaboration as the foundation of the special sauce recipe for vibrant Jewish life.
“Marc has provided strategic counsel, guidance and partnership at so many critical crossroads for our work. Together we set the stage for the Master Plan process envisioning the new Pearlstone Campus for Living Judaism in 2011. Together we worked, piece by piece, to raise $18 million (and counting) to implement this plan, as part of The Associated’s visionary Centennial Campaign, with transformative impact for Pearlstone and our entire community. And Marc was there for us when we needed him most, when the pandemic crushed our business and forced us into a 65% reduction in force: he and his team were by our side with emergency support, kept the faith in Pearlstone, and stuck with us as we fought our way back through a grueling four-plus-year recovery process. Through Marc’s leadership, The Associated did not let one of our communal agencies fail, and as a result we all made it through the storm while maintaining a vital, healthy, connected Baltimore Jewish community.
“And when I brought a radical new merger possibility to Marc — that Pearlstone and Baltimore could become immeasurably strengthened as the headquarters of the leading Jewish environmental organization in the world (now known as Adamah) — he listened carefully, he asked essential questions, he helped us think through the potential challenges and opportunities, and he helped us make it a great success — for Pearlstone, for Baltimore, for our people, and for the planet.
“Marc Terrill has built and sustained this Jewish community for decades, in deep genuine partnership with so many exemplary professional leaders, generous donors and passionate community members. For me he has been a mentor, an ally, a role model and friend. I will strive to implement what I’ve learned from Marc for many years to come. Thank you for everything!”
— Jakir Manela
Chief Executive Officer, Adamah
‘Spirit of Solidarity’
“Throughout Marc Terrill’s three decades at the Associated, he has had a remarkable impact on the Jewish community in Baltimore, including the establishment of Hillel chapters here at Hopkins and our local counterparts.
“Under his leadership, the Associated has helped Hillel chapters (including our own) provide students across the city — now spanning generations –with a pluralistic, welcoming home and ongoing opportunities to advance a spirit of “Tikkun Olam,” an imperative to repair the world. This spirit has been core to Marc’s leadership — and the Associated’s commitment to improving the economic, social, and physical health of our city of Baltimore, evident in its AgeWell Baltimore initiative and its support of the city’s senior citizens, its partnerships to promote neighborhood multicultural evenings and interfaith dialogues, and its investments in programs to sustain and grow the city’s neighborhoods from Northwest Baltimore to downtown Jonestown.
“Over these past 15 years as Johns Hopkins’ president, I have greatly cherished our institution’s relationship with Marc and the Associated. And we look forward to honoring Marc’s legacy by continuing our work with the Associated to sustain a spirit of interfaith solidarity, community, and service.”
— Ronald J. Daniels
President, Johns Hopkins University
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