John Marx

1921 – 2012

John Marx loved natural places, and he loved to sing.

John and his wife, Georgia Baciu, lived a modest life together on San Juan Island, their home of 30+ years, where John performed with the San Juan Singers. Their one extravagance was travel, and together their adventures took them to many wild and remote places. From exploring penguin colonies in Antarctica to snorkeling in the Solomon Islands to backpacking throughout the western United States, John sought open spaces that weren’t crowded. His many mountaineering accomplishments included scaling all 13 of California’s 14,000+ foot peaks.

In addition to his lifetime commitment to preserving, protecting and enjoying our natural world, Georgia tells us that John did not like to pay taxes, and his estate plans included several gifts to his favorite nonprofit organizations. John’s significant bequest to the San Juan Preservation Trust will protect special island places in perpetuity, and will continue to sing of John’s generous life and passions.

The Preservation Trust’s board of trustees designated John’s bequest be divided between the Trust’s permanent Endowment Fund and the Campaign to Save Vendovi Island.

from the October 2013 issue of Island Dispatch.