William Henry Marks, 81, beloved husband of Priscilla Crosson Marks, died peacefully on October 16, 2021 at Cascades-Verdae in Greenville, SC his home for the past ten years. He was born in New Haven, CT on March 11, 1940 and lived in North Haven, CT for most of his life. He grew up on the Marks’ Dairy Farm. He graduated from North Haven High School where he played on the varsity baseball team. Because of his prowess in baseball, he received a four-year scholarship to Colby College in Waterville Maine where he majored in history. He also had three masters’ degrees, two from Southern CT State University and one from Wesleyan in Middletown, CT. He taught U.S. History and Contemporary Issues at North Branford High School, was department head and coached baseball over a 37-year period. He was voted teacher of the year at North Branford High School twice and was inducted into North Haven High School’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Besides his wife, Bill is survived by three daughters: Carolyn Marks of North Haven, Jennifer Northcutt (Tim) of Greenville, SC and Julie Mehrotra (Ashish) of Meriden, CT. He has eight grandchildren: Grace, Kathleen, Travis, Emille, Luke, Justin, Nathan and Anjulle. They were a total joy to him.
Bill will be interred in Center Cemetery, North Haven on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021 at 1:30 PM, and a remembrance service will be held at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to your favorite charity in his name.
Sincere condolences to Bills family. Bill Was a lifelong friend, fellow DeMolay and longtime baseball, football and basketball teammate. Our Montowese most special neighbors, our mothers were dear friends. We were classmates from kindergarten thru NHHS. I am proud that Bill was a major part of my young life. God bless the Marks family.
Dave, thank you for your kind words.
My deepest condolences to you, Priscilla and your entire family. I was fortunate to have worked with Bill for many years at North Branford High School and always valued his thoughtful opinions and advice on any topic that we would discuss. He had a tremendous background and understanding of everything from; teaching, politics, the economy, sports and unions to name a few. To me, Bill was both mentor and friend. He became one of my “go to” people for advice prior to making an important decision, because I knew his answer would be anchored in fact and with a moral compass. Bill always loved to go out for breakfast with Dan Sherban and myself where we could sit for hours, drink coffee and solve the world’s problems.
I will miss you my friend,
Tom Jaqua
Tom, thank you for your memorial to Bill. I know he thought the world of you.
Priscilla and family, my deepest condolences When I first started teaching at North Branford High School Bill for some reason took a liking to me and took me through the rough spots of being head of a department. Our friendship grew over the years. Bill’s bunker, as Tom referred to it, was a place to share thoughts about family, teacher contracts, investments and such over coffee which he always brought in his beat up thermos. In our discussions we found out that we both had much in common like doing chores on the farm early in the morning and our love for sports. He was very methodical in the way he would approach problems, telling me waiting a little bit longer sometimes resolves the issue. Above all, for Bill, family always came first. He was a great friend, I miss him,
Dan Sherban
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Mr. Marks was my mentor teacher when I student taught at North Branford High School in the Fall of 1994. I am now in my 26th year at North Haven High School and there is not a day that goes by in which I am not grateful for all he taught me many years ago. He was kind, bright and a man of integrity. I could not have asked for a better trainer for this profession.
It was poetic that many years later I would come to teach his grandson Justin in my classroom. My prayers and my heart are with you all.
Jeff DeMaio
To the Marks family,
My deepest sympathies on your loss.
Mr. Marks was one of my most favorite teachers during school. I truly appreciated his guidance he gave me over the years especially when i went to college and I will always treasure our conversations about life and politics. He was a big reason why I went into teaching and why I have taught part time on a college level for almost 40 years now.
Bob Swick NBHS Class of 76
Sincere condolences from Melayna(Harrison) Lovelace and I. We had Bill as instructor and baseball coach at NBHS class of ‘66. He was a great teacher who clearly loved his passion of teaching. He had a great influence on my life.
May he rest in peace.
Mrs. Marks and Family,
My deepest sympathies. Mr. Marks was a remarkable teacher. I can still hear his words and strive daily to live up to his standards of analysis and expression. He had a true passion for his profession and because of that passion left an indelible impression on his students. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jay Rava
Mr.Marks instilled, for me, an interest in seeking the truth and multiple perspectives in issues and a desire to know more. I’m confident his teaching helped me continue to love education and ultimately to be a better educator. I’m sorry for your loss and am thinking of your family.
My sympathy to Bill’s family. Bill was a colleague of mine in North Branford. Bill was a smart, kind, and caring man. I enjoyed our political discussions when he came over to the intermediate school. We also shared memories of our North Haven roots. May fond memories sustain you during this difficult time.
To the Marks family,
I’m deeply sorry and saddened for your loss. I am a tiny dot in the legacy he leaves. A better athlete than student during my four year at NBHS. He used the athlete to bring out the student I didn’t think was in me. Thank you Mr. Marks. RIP
Raf Graham class of ‘76
He was my History teacher back in the 70s during my years at North Branford High School, he treated all of his students with kindness and empathy and respect even the outcasts like me, you could always come to him for help, he was one of the reasons why I stayed in school and did not give up,my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
My sincere condolences to family and friends. Mr. Marks was a legend in the NB school system, known for his intelligence, thoughtfulness, and kindness. He was the epitome of a teacher who touched and improved many lives.
I had the privilege of playing baseball at NBHS for Coach Marks and also had him as a history teacher. During a 40+ year career as a teacher, coach, and athletic director at the HS, College & University levels there was one constant for me…I would often reflect on the lessons he taught us and his expectations for us to comport ourselves with dignity, sportsmanship and humility; all things he modeled on a daily basis. A gentleman in every respect as well as the consummate “educator” who did more than just share facts with us…he taught us “how to think” critically and analytically. My thoughts and prayers go out to you as you navigate the challenge of Coach’s passing.
I studied Clausewitz under Coach Marks and also learned how to throw a “cutter” as a pitcher at NBHS that helped launched me into a 45-year career in the Coast Guard. His legacy lives on as an educator, scholar and ambassador of integrity!
I have always thought he was an outstanding teacher. Thank you all for confirming that for me. We had a great 57 years together and many happy memories.
I remember Bill as a voice of calm that commanded the attention of a room when he spoke. My condolences.
Every once in a while the question comes up, “Who have been the greatest influences in yoour life?” It was way back in the 60’s since I had his classes at NBHS, and I hadn’t seen him since the mid 70’s, but Mr. Marks always has been (and will be) on my list of maybe the three most influential. It really had little to do with the classes. It was that he was always there for me, his classroom door literally always open at the end of the day, and I was able to just pop in and talk. I was an intelligent but really messed up teenager (no drugs or crime or anything, just messed up). And I was able to have tons of conversations with Mr. Marks about nothing in particular (history, baseball, politics – a ton about politics). It took a while, but all that time he was willing to spend with me helped a lot in getting me back on a decent track. He was one of my first adult friends, who treated me in all those talks as an adult, and all those conversations did an awful lot to get me back oon the right track. I’m only sorry that I stopped reaching out, because I’m sure he would hve still been willing to talk. At any rate, he will always be very special in my life.