William B. Marklevits (Bill), age 55, Co-Founder and Vice President of Noram International Corporation, Laguna Hills, CA and President of Noram Japan Ltd, Tokyo, Japan died unexpectedly of natural causes in Indianapolis on March 10, 2012, while traveling on business. He spent most of his time in Orange County, CA, Michigan, and Tokyo.
Bill was born April 21, 1956 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attended elementary and Jr. High School in Muskegon, MI and High School in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He went on and earned a BA and MBA from Michigan State University. During his studies, he also attended Japan-America Institute of Management Science (JAIMS) in Hawaii and Konan University in Japan.
After university, Bill spearheaded his companies with his father Gene. Noram International Corporation and Noram Japan Co. Ltd. are successful in the global and military supply of athletic apparel and sports equipment. He was also active in the MSU Alumni Association, United States Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and the USBWA (United States Basketball Writers Association).
With a love of sports, he always had season tickets to the MSU football games and managed to travel to Michigan regularly for the games. He also loved going to the Super Bowl. Some of his other interests included Michigan State University Basketball, Big Ten Conference, BCS Bowl Games, NCAA March Madness, NFL, and High School Sports. He regularly attended games as press and contributed sports articles and photographs to SpartanNation.com and other sports news. In his spare time, he enjoyed running and even ran a few marathons.
In November 1987 he married and is survived by Yuriko Marklevits and their two daughters; Janet Marklevits and Jenny Marklevits. Bill is also survived by his parents Gene and Gail Marklevits, Laguna Hills, CA and his sister Nancy Whitworth and her husband, Steven, from Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
Memorial services for William Brian Marklevits will be held at O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 on Saturday, March 24th at 4:00 p.m. with another memorial service at Michigan State University to be set at a later date after the basketball season.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been set up in his name. Donations can be sent to Michigan State University made out to: Spartan Fund, 535 Chestnut Rd., Rm 300, East Lansing, MI 48824-1005 or St. Jude’s Hospital Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148. Attn: Tribute Program - Ref: Tribute Acct. #30510850.
We would like to thank all of our friends and family for their support during this difficult time.