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Stephen A. Marder ’75

November 21, 2017, in Narberth, Pennsylvania.

Born in Philadelphia, Stephen grew up with a fascination for life, and in particular its intellectual aspects. From an early age, he pursued the natural sciences and geology, and collected all forms of antiques—from African art to Sandwich glass (named after the glass made in Sandwich, Massachusetts) to real photo postcards (versus the lithographic or offset printing processes used in most postcards).

He earned his bachelor’s degree in art history from Reed and wrote his thesis, “The Sources of Maillart’s Mature Bridge Forms: A Problem of ‘Form and Function,’” with Prof. Charles Rhyne [art history 1960–97]. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978 and then completed his certification to become a professional engineer. His area of specialty was in the fluid and thermal sciences.

In addition to his career in the utility industry, Stephen pursued his passions of history and art. He came to believe history and its remnants could be regarded as a measure of people’s souls. In addition to publishing several papers on railroad and canal history of Pennsylvania and New York, he wrote a book, From Scranton to Cadosia: Along the N.Y.O.&W. Ry. Co. (1998), a historical sketch of the Scranton Division of the New York Ontario and Western Railway from 1890 to the present. He also conducted classes and seminars on regional history, Colonial metalware, and digital preservation.

Stephen is survived by his son, Matthew Reed Marder, and his wife of nearly 28 years, Mary E. (Maribeth) Eldridge ’79.

Appeared in Reed magazine: June 2019

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