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By Brent Hoffmann, Class of 2005

“In the 1980s, I’d taken a tour offered by the Archicenter, as CAC’s predecessor was then called,” Marcia explained.  “I immediately knew that this was something I wanted to do, although I was very busy professionally.  But I needed an outlet, something just for me, so I jumped into docent training and loved every minute of it.”  

“I like to put a personal spin on my tours, so I tell people on my River Cruise that the London House Hotel bears the name of a famous night club that was in the building in the 1950s and ‘60s, and that’s where I went after my South Shore High School prom. That always get a warm response!  Another day on the river, I gave a tour to a Young Presidents Organization group that had Tim Samuelson, our city’s cultural historian, as its guide.  When I asked Tim how I should handle this arrangement, he told me to just lead my regular tour.  But every so often, I could see that Tim was bursting with a story or fact he wanted to share.  So, I invited him up to the microphone to join in. I was somewhat intimidated to have Tim along, but we all wound up thoroughly enjoying ourselves.”

Tours, Tours, Tours

In addition to the river cruise, Marcia, class of 1994, leads the CAC Art Deco Skyscrapers, Riverfront Deco, Must See, Mid-century Modernism, Hotel Boom, Old Town Triangle, Gold Coast Dearborn St., and Architecture on the Magnificent Mile walking tours.  Marcia’s the co-chair of the Volunteer Enrichment Committee and assistant director of the Riverfront Deco and Old Town Triangle tours.  She won a docent service award in 2021 and an Above and Beyond Award at this year’s DAN.  She initiated the volunteer Zoom book club sessions during COVID and led some of the sessions. 

College and Beyond

Marcia earned a BA in education at Roosevelt University, then taught sixth graders at Waterman School in South Holland, Illinois, prior to starting a family with husband Larry.  “I have a deep-seated love of history, particularly Chicago history, and Jewish studies,” she continued.  “And an important part of living is meeting new people and exploring new relationships.  So, as my two daughters grew older, I started taking courses at the Spertus Institute on south Michigan Avenue.  That led to a master’s degree in Jewish Communal Service, which led to my job as the institute’s director of development.  Until I retired, I was fortunate to work in fundraising as the associate director of the Midwest office of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.  Helping to build that museum was a life altering experience.

After retirement, Marcia was a very involved grandma to her three granddaughters, now all young adults. “Today, I’m active in book clubs, a film group, and going to the theater.  I’m also interested in mid-century everything, including furniture and costume jewelry.  My prized possession is my Bakelite collection of jewelry, radios, salt and pepper shakers, and napkin rings.  

Travel

“I enjoy traveling and planning travel adventures, particularly road trips,” Marcia concluded.  “Prior to the pandemic, my husband and I traveled internationally but, for the last few years, we’ve confined our travel to the U.S.  We had a great time traveling every mile of Route 66 over the course of two years. And this summer, we’ll travel to Scandinavia, our first trip out of the country in almost four years.”

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