Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
The Zionist Organization of America and I personally are devastated by and deeply mourn the passing of Mr. Bernie Marcus: an extraordinary Zionist, American patriot, business giant, philanthropic titan, devoted ZOA supporter and my dear friend.
Mr. Marcus is best known as a brilliant and visionary businessman who co-founded and built the massive Home Depot company of thousands of huge stores and hundreds of thousands of employees. Many of us also know him for his extraordinary and astronomical support for and love of the Jewish State of Israel. We are so proud that Mr. Marcus received ZOA’s Justice Louis D. Brandeis award, granted to remarkable defenders of Israel, at ZOA’s 2016 Gala. At the Gala, he made a fabulous and inspiring speech in his unique regal manner. Everyone loved his powerful words and wonderful sense of humor. The audience roared with laughter when he began his speech by saying: “Hi, I’m Bernie Marcus from Home Depot. If you don’t shop at Home Depot, may your toilets overflow tonight.” He was articulate and insightful; his remarks filled with humor and wisdom.
ZOA and the online ZOA Book Club also enjoyed his magnificent stories and philosophy when we were honored to have Mr. Marcus be our featured book club speaker discussing his inspiring latest book, published in the fall of 2022, “Kick Up Some Dust: Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing it Yourself.” (Here is a link to a recording of the ZOA Book Club featuring Mr. Marcus.)
I especially loved my visits with Bernie Marcus at his home in Boca Raton, Florida when he would regale my wife Rita and me with stories about his beloved Atlanta aquarium; the pride he had in his family members in Israel; his love of his mother and father while growing up in Newark, New Jersey; and the nutrition and disease projects he funded and made possible. He was especially interested in specific nutrients that could prevent and treat diseases from sepsis to cancer. He also spoke about so much enjoying driving his Hyundai Equus car that it caused me to buy a Hyundai Equus.
I last spoke with Bernie Marcus just five days ago. As always, Mr. Marcus was thoughtful, lucid and clear as a bell to his very last days.
The world and I will miss him terribly. I can’t imagine the world without Bernie Marcus. The world and I will never be quite the same.
May Bernie Marcus’ dear wife, children, grandchildren, and other family members and friends be comforted among the mourners of his beloved Zion and his beloved Jerusalem.