Marilyn M. Morfogen, 82

Marilyn McCormick Morfogen, 82, of Palm Beach, FL died Tuesday, September 6, 2011.  She was the daughter of the late Albert & Helen (Glennon) McCormick.

Marilyn was born in Boonton, New Jersey July 18, 1929, graduated from Boonton High School, attended the University of South Carolina and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska in 1950.  She attended Katherine Gibbs in Manhattan and then joined the Dean’s Office at Newark College of Engineering.

She married her Boonton High School classmate, Zachary Morfogen in 1956, and they had two children, Ann and Paul, and lived in Den Haag, The Netherlands before moving to Palm Beach, Florida in 1998.  When he retired from Time Inc. in 1987, they formed Morfogen Associates, a consulting company for corporations and cultural institutions and launched “NEWS” with she, the Publisher, and he, the Editor of the popular newsletter that celebrates the Arts—The Four Freedoms—Hospice Care— with exhibitions, books, television and educational programming for these centerpieces of their life together as expressed by Donald Schumacher—

“As President and CEO of the National Hospice Foundation, we honor Marilyn for the inspiration and passion to get the Morfogen’s involved in hospice many years ago when the hospice movement was getting started in the United States.  Marilyn has always been involved in Zach’s hospice commitment and has truly made a difference in advancing hospice care across the nation.  We were especially honored to have Marilyn participate in the HBO reception where NHF announced the Zachary Morfogen Art of Caring Award on June 23, 2011, in New York.  Marilyn has so many friends and admirers in the hospice family to remember her and the legacy she has inspired.”

That legacy has inspired their seven grandchildren and a broad circle of associates to celebrate her spirit by contributions to the Morfogen Arts and Education Fund for the National Center for Care at the End of Life, 1731 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22341 where a sculpture on “Freedom from Fear” by artist/friend Henry Loustau will be permanently installed in memory of Marilyn who embraced hospice care for others…and herself…free from fear.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30am on Friday, September 9, 2011 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 910 Birch Street, Boonton, NJ 07005.  There will be a viewing on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 6-8pm at Lewis & Carey Funeral Home, 312 West Main Street, Boonton, NJ 07005. Following the Mass, interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  Lewis & Carey Directors of Funerals (973) 334-0842