Marsha O’Bannon

Marsha Ann O’Bannon passed away, surrounded by friends and family, in her San Francisco home. In addition to being the first woman officer on the New York Stock Exchange in 1976, her career highlights included working as a speechwriter for Lyndon B. Johnson. She also had many successful real estate development projects in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. Born in Washington, DC, Marsha was a true “citizen of the world.” She traveled extensively and lived in Paris, San Francisco, Napa Valley (Calistoga), and the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. She was a lifelong patron and supporter of the arts, and enriched the lives of her friends and family by taking them to shows and exhibitions regularly. She was generous, bold, stylish, smart, and outspoken—both interesting and interested in the people and world around her. Throughout her life, she mentored and helped positively shape the lives of dozens of young people. She was generous both in the gifts she gave and in sharing her time and expertise with those around her.

Marsha grew up in DC, spent many summers on the Chesapeake Bay, and attended Bucknell University and the London School of Economics. In 1970, she married public television writer and producer David Prowitt and eventually moved with him from DC to New York City. They divorced a few years later, but Marsha’s dynamic personality and keen intelligence kicked off a spectacularly successful career and a rich, bi-coastal and international life.

She was a singular personality and will be missed dearly. Marsha is survived by her sister Dona Erkenbeck, stepchildren Peter Prowitt, Dave Prowitt, and Lynn Prowitt, sister in-law Ellen O’Bannon, niece and nephew Blakely Burton and Philip O’Bannon, as well as 13 great nieces and nephews, step grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her mother Elsie “Kay” O’Bannon and brother Hubert “Obie” O’Bannon. The family will hold a private memorial service in San Francisco this spring.