Obituary of Hugh B. Marius

HUGH B. MARIUS June 5. 1920 - April 13, 2013 Sugar Loaf, NY Hugh B. Marius, a 40 year resident of Sugar Loaf, NY died peacefully at Elant in Goshen, NY on April 13, 2013. He was 92 years old. Hugh was born on June 5, 1920 in Panama to Edwin and Aldith Marius who emigrated from St. Lucia to work in the Panama Canal. Subsequently, Hugh with his parents immigrated to the United States and established residency in Harlem, NY. Hugh attended public schools in Harlem and was one of only four black students enrolled at the prestigious Townsend Harris Hall High School. He later went on to City College and St. John's University in New York City. After a 2 year stint in the Army, Hugh traveled to France, graduated from the Institute of Political Studies and was a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Geography, University of Paris. Soon afterwards, in 1951, Hugh landed a job as a salesman with Monsieur Henri, Wine and Spirits Company. He left Monsieur Henri in 1963 to pursue public service. He returned in 1974 to rejoin the company that had been purchased by PepsiCo where he served as Mid-Atlantic States Division Manager. In 1965, John V. Lindsey enlisted Hugh for his mayoral campaign. Hugh rallied voters throughout Harlem and the South Bronx to help elect Lindsey, who in turn, appointed Hugh as the Executive Assistant to the Department of Markets. Two years later, Hugh moved to the city's Department of Sanitation where he was the first black to be appointed Deputy Commissioner. This position was under the auspices of Commissioner Sam Kearing, who remained a beloved and loyal friend to Hugh throughout his life. Mr. Marius quickly gained a reputation among city politicians including Ed Koch and Robert Abram as one who was responsive to the immediate and emerging needs of the city's diverse communities and constituencies. Hugh was a member of Harlem's political club that included, Percy Sutton, Basil Patterson, Charles Rangel, and David Dinkins. He helped organize the city's U.S. Senate campaign for Robert Kennedy and was a New York State delegate for Jimmy Carter's presidential campaign. In 1976, Hugh Marius was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey to serve on the New York State Liquor Authority where he served as Chairman in 1977 and 1978. In 1982, Hugh was named the Vice President of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators and served as its President in 1984 and 1985. In both instances, he was again the first black officer of this national organization. Hugh's passion for politics and coupled with his commitment to public service enabled him to be appointed to many committees, associations, councils and other entities at the local, state and federal levels. These included various appointments from each of the five elected Orange County Executives. In additions, former Congressman Ben Gilman appointed Hugh to his International Trade Advisory Committee. Mr. Marius served for more than ten years as a Member of the Corporation of the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York and was subsequently appointed a Charter Member of the Institute's Associates. He was also the chairman of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce (Middletown and Goshen) and worked with others to create new initiatives such as Leadership Orange where he was the first member to contribute to the scholarship fund, and the council for Women and Minority-Owned Business. In addition, he created the Chamber's International Trade Committee and served as its Chairman. Hugh was also elected to the Board of the seven-county Hudson Valley International Trade Association. Mr. Marius was the Vice President and Trustee of Big Brothers, Inc. of New York City. He enlisted the support of luminaries including General Colin Powell to help recruit volunteer mentors and corporate sponsors. Mr. Marius was a the Director of Learning to Read Through the Arts, Inc. at the Guggenheim and worked in concert with its founder, Paloma Picasso, to promote arts education in school settings. He was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Chapter 123 and was active on the Management Board of the Orange County Foreign Trade Zone. Hugh believed in order to achieve equity there must be access for all. After moving out of his Greenwich Village apartment, Mr. Marius moved to Orange County in 1974. He purchased a home in Sugar Loaf, New York that was manufactured by Sears Roebuck. He later started his own consulting firm, Creative Palates International that assisted clients with the acquisition of a liquor license. Hugh secured liquor licenses for many establishments in New York City that were at the core of the city's famed nightlife including many of the city's five-star restaurants and hotels as well as other establishments throughout the Hudson Valley. Hugh loved language, conversation and culture. He was fluent in English, French and Spanish. He was quick to correct one's spelling and grammar. He traveled extensively and especially to the isle of Guadeloupe, W.I. where he visited many times and was reunited with his friends from his days in Paris and became endeared there by many others. However, regardless of how exotic his destination, Hugh always enjoyed returning home to Sugar Loaf where he had many friends. One could usually find Hugh at his favorite local spot, The Barnsider, where he routinely "held court" with friends and other customers. His ground rules included civility, respect for other's opinions and discuss any topic of the day, except sports. Hugh's protocol was to offer a friend or stranger a libation that served as his calling card to engage them in lively conversation. "From the streets of Harlem to the plush halls of corporate America and high-powered government, Hugh Marius was able to maintain a careful balance between his ethnic roots and mainstream success." (Excerpt from Times-Herald Record, November 9. 1992) For years, Hugh carried a folded and faded piece of paper in his wallet. Hugh presented this to anyone that dared to ask his age. The note was a reference to Herman Hesse, a German-Swiss writer, it read: "That in reality youth and age exist only among ordinary people. All more talented and exceptional people are sometimes young and sometimes old, just as they are sometimes happy and sometimes sad." Hugh Marius was not among ordinary people. He was extraordinary. Hugh Marius is survived by his brother, Dr. Fitzalbert Marius of Fresno, California and is predeceased by his brothers: Nathan, Kenneth, and Everard and by his sister, Francine. He has several nieces, nephews and cousins including his niece, Cheryl Marius and his cousin, Jeanne Ollivierre of New York City. He was married for 16 years to Chritiane Riviere de Boland who he met while they were both students at the University of Paris. The marriage ended amicably in divorce. Hugh's friends and family want to thank the staff at Elant in Goshen for the care and comfort they provided to Hugh through assisted living and rehabilitation services. Friends may call at the Donovan Funeral Home, Goshen, New York on Wednesday, April 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Goshen on Thursday, April 18th at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Orange County Veteran's Cemetery in Goshen.