Pamela Marcus

Pamela Marcus, PhD, from Bergenfield, NJ, passed away at the age of 73 in her home in Cary, NC.

Pamela was born June 7, 1950 in Jersey City, NJ, to Henry and Marie Erbeck. As a student, she was musically inclined, playing the violin and eventually leading the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as Drum Majorette of the renowned Bergenfield High School Marching Band. Pam was a proud and devoted single parent to her first two children, Gene and Kriste. In the early 1980’s, Pam began working at Marcus Jewelers in Hackensack, NJ. There, she met her husband Stanley, whom she was devoted to until his passing in 2020, and with whom she raised two more children, Loren and Auri.

Pamela continued her studies, ultimately receiving her PhD in Education from Capella University in 2008. In her career, Pamela most notably worked as Director of Field Studies and as an Adjunct Professor at Ramapo College of NJ. After her son's untimely passing in 2003, Pam created the Gene Chad Coppa Memorial Endowment Fund, benefiting research that addresses rare causes of blindness through the Institute of Ophthalmology at Rutgers University. Pam continued to advocate for the fund until the end of her life. 

Pamela is survived by her brother, Robert Erbeck (Rosanne), children Kriste Erbeck Marcus, Loren Beth Marcus (Ersin), Auri Caron Marcus (Dave) and grandchildren: Nicholas Metin, Kayleigh Gene and Ashleigh Marie Borluca and Sienna Jade Marcus-Gerardu. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Stanley Jerome and son, Gene C. Coppa. A breast cancer survivor, Pamela was resilient, kind and fiercely loyal to her family above all.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, American Heart Association or the Gene C. Coppa Memorial Endowment Fund.