This website was created in honor of Anita and Marlan Shalley, of blessed memory, who were married for 62 years and passed away within two months of each other in 2020.
Marlan was born on August 17, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, where he spent the entirety of his childhood, including the war years. His father and grandparents were all immigrants (from Russia and Poland). Marlan worked in his family's international shipping business for many years, and was a devotee of meditation, a practice he discovered at a very young age. He also was an avid reader of biography, history, and other non-fiction (and the occasional great novel.)
Anita was born in London on September 26, 1930. As a child, she was evacuated from London, like most children, to be kept safe from the German blitz. She lived in several different homes, away from her parents, for the bulk of the war. Her father fought in the British army, while her mother lived with her grandparents after their family home in London was destroyed by a bomb. After the war, Anita acted on the stage at the Unity Theater in London, receiving kudos from many, including Sir Richard Attenborough. She later moved to Paris with her friends and worked for NATO, before traveling to NYC, where she met Marlan.
They met and married in NYC in 1958, and moved to London, Anita's home, for the first years of their marriage. Their son, Perry, was born there. They moved back to NYC shortly before their daughter, Eve, was born. It was around that time that Marlan joined his brother Selwyn's shipping business in Manhattan. They lived in NY until 1981, when they moved to South Florida. It was then that Anita started an incredibly successful career as a fundraiser for South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation. Her work touched the lives of thousands, all over the world. Anita was devoted to Jewish causes, and to helping those in-need, and she brought to bear all her talents and skills in her role as Women's Division Director.
Anita and Marlan continued to live in their home in South Florida after they both retired. Anita was a wonderful cook, and hosted many dinner parties. Like Marlan, she was an avid reader, loving novels, mysteries, and spy thrillers, and was proud she could finish the NY Times Sunday crossword every week, even in her last days. Marlan and Anita were also foodies, who tried every good restaurant in NYC and South Florida.
Anita and Marlan are survived by their son, Perry, daughter, Eve, daughter-in-law, Alexandra, son-in-law, Yoav, and their grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew, both of whom they adored.
