Attorney Marvin Harold Glaser, 92, passed away on March 6th, 2025, at Brookdale Middleton Stonefield. Marvin, son of Martha and Percy Glaser, was born on May 3rd, 1932, in Malden, Massachusetts.
Marvin graduated from Malden High School and then served in US Army. He attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he was an active member of the fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi. He attended Boston University Law School and was a member of the Massachusetts Bar until his retirement.
As part of his commitment to social justice Marvin took many pro bono cases; he never turned away a client because of inability to pay. He was an active participant in the anti-Vietnam war movement and volunteered on many picket lines protesting the sale of non-union picked fruits and vegetables.
Marvin campaigned for Eugene McCarthy’s presidential bid and ran for Massachusetts state representative on the democratic ticket in the 14th district in 1968 and came within a handful of votes but was defeated by the incumbent.
Marvin had many hobbies. He played duplicate bridge with his lifelong friend, Harvey Handel, and enjoyed playing in small stake poker games with a group of friends. An amateur photographer, he favored candid, unposed photos, never saying ‘Smile.’ He preferred the authentic to the fake in all areas. Marvin liked shooting nature scenes and pictures of food, especially red peppers. In a small darkroom just off his kitchen, he taught his children about the magic of photo development.
Marvin loved to eat, and he loved to cook. An avid fan of Julia Child, his family was often treated to gourmet meals. His dinner parties were always a hit, and he occasionally catered small parties for his friends.
Winemaking was another hobby, as was travel. Marvin studied Italian before embarking on a culinary tour of Italy with Pauline, Ben and Peter – his cousin and close friends.
Long before it was popular, Marvin was into fitness. He used the book, ‘Royal Canadian Air-Force Exercises’ as a base for his program, and jogged well into his ‘70s. He also swam and played tennis.
A lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, Marvin enjoyed taking his children, one at a time, to a game at Fenway Park. He was a creative, intelligent, kind man with a great sense of humor. Marvin marched to his own drum. He will be sorely missed.
Marvin is survived by his three children: Sara-Rivka of Tekoa, Israel, Carol of Madison, Wisconsin and Philip of Ithaca, New York. He is also survived by two daughters-in-law, Linda Beltz Glaser and Jenny Gumperz, seven grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Donations may be made to Jewish Social Services of Madison, the Jewish Community Supported Burial Fund, 6300 Enterprise Lane, Ste 309, Madison, WI 53719, JSS of Madison
Please share your memories of Marvin here on his Tribute Wall.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road Madison
(608) 238-3434