Marion Plotkin

Educator,Community Theatre Actor/Director

Marion Plotkin of Lakewood,NJ, formerly of Linden, NJ, died May 31st at City of Hope, Scotch Plains NJ.
A private service was held at Beth Israel Cemetery Thursday June 2nd.
Mrs. Plotkin,wife of the late Robert Plotkin,devoted many years of her life to her interests in education and theatre.She attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated from NYU with a BS degree in drama and education.She was a member the Washington Square repertory Company,under the direction of Professor Randolph Somerville, New York University. Mrs. Plotkin often spoke of her admiration for Professors Somerville and Premont. Certified as an elementary and secondary teacher,she was employed by the Linden Board of Education for 21 years as a classroom teacher,reading specialist,communications specialist and helping teacher.Mrs. Plotkin also served as a vice president of the NJ Public Schools Public Relations Association and was a Teacher/Director of The Rahway Head Start summer program. Marion was a member of the NEA and the NJEA as well as the Retired Teachers Association. After her retirement from the Linden Public Schools, she worked as an adjunct professor for Kean University,supervising student teachers.In addition to her career in education, Marion was involved in community and regional theatre as both an actor and director. She performed throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in professional and non-professional productions for more than 40 years.Marion was a founding member of the Merck Circle Players in Rahway NJ,where she directed and acted for many years. Mrs. Plotkin was subsequently founder and artistic director of Theatre 300, a repertory theatre formed in the city of Linden,NJ. Most recently she was the director of a childrens’ theatre program sponsored by SCAN in Monmouth county and concurrently taught a readers theatre acting class for seniors. She also served as Editor-In-Chief of an award winning weekly news publication in her Lakewood,NJ, community. She had lifelong friends Selma,Doris,Barbara,Martha,Evette,Ruthie,Florence and always held them close to her heart.
Most of this obituary was written by Marion with additions by her son. Marion added this at the end, “Actually, what I enjoyed most in my life was the role of ‘homemaker’ which takes in being a wife,mother,and grandmother!”

Click link below to hear one of Marion’s favorite recordings by her favorite instrumentalist, Sidney Bechet;