Marilyn Naparst

May 3, 1935 - January 23, 2022

A Berkeley resident of 65 years, Marilyn lived independently until a massive stroke in August 2021. She died surrounded by family.

Marilyn (nee Avrushin) was born in Detroit, an only child raised in a culturally Jewish household by mother Marion, father Harry, & Aunt Bea. She graduated from Wayne State University, moved to Berkeley in 1957 for grad school,& obtained her teaching credential in 1960.

Shortly after arriving, Marilyn met Stan Naparst at a graduate student event, & in 1959 they were married. Marilyn then devoted the next years to being a stay-at-home mom of three children. While busy raising a family, Marilyn managed to find time & energy to dive headfirst into all that Berkeley had to offer: pottery, painting, feminist consciousness-raising groups, cultural events, political protests, experimental theatre. Her grandest artistic passion was dancing: Greek, Belly, Flamenco, Debke, and Modern.

Marilyn returned to the workforce in her late 30s and spent many years doing admin work, becoming the director of support services for a finance company. When Stan became ill with cancer, she left that job in order to simplify her life. From then on, she did secretarial work at a methadone clinic and a law office, only stopping work due to the Covid lockdown.

When Stan died in 1994, Marilyn was only 59 years old, still with abundant energy and a long life ahead of her. Having spent many years enjoying artistic pursuits, and casting about for a way to live meaningfully in her widowhood, she found a new calling as a political activist. Stan had been very active politically, so it was as though she was continuing his legacy. She took a special interest in social justice issues pertaining to Latin America, & over the years made many political mission trips with various groups to Cuba and other countries.

While busy with work, political activity, and artistic pursuits, Marilyn always found time for friends and family. In fact, being in the presence of loved ones was the experience that sustained her the most. Marilyn had a rare openness & spontaneity, and would happily say “yes” to just about any invitation. She is survived by her daughters Lise & Diana, son Tom, grandchildren Monica, Noah, & Lila, various other relatives, & many comrades/ friends in the arts and social justice worlds.

Donations in Marilyn’s memory can be made to Planned Parenthood, Ms. Magazine, Marin Interfaith Task Force, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, La Peña Cultural Center, KPFA.

Many have described Marilyn as a “force of nature”. May Marilyn’s memory continue to bless and inspire all who knew her. We will greatly miss her raucous laugh, passionate spark, quirkiness, adventurousness, & most of all, her generous loving spirit.