Marvin Allen Thomas

Marvin Allen Thomas died on Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 at 92 years old. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and is deeply missed by the many friends and family members who loved him. Marvin was born June 1st, 1930 to Louis “Tommy” Thomas and Gertrude Schwalb. Marvin was a Brooklynite, a fact you would be immediately aware of listening to him speak, especially of his beloved Dodgers. He took great pride in his crystalline tenor and (like his mother and aunts) genuinely loved to sing (and dance), which afforded him a moment of fame as a soloist at Carnegie Hall as a young man, and which his family enjoyed throughout his long life. He also was a proud navy man, following his father into the service at age 17, and serving on the USS Vulcan and USS Maury, until he was permanently disabled while on duty in the Persian Gulf. His disability did not prevent him from becoming an avid world-traveler, visiting many countries on all six continents during his lifetime. He also was a skilled and passionate photographer, and he leaves behind portfolios of gorgeous images captured from his travels, and of his family and friends as unofficial photographer of many events. He had several jobs following the navy. He (and his father) had an incredible eye for detail, which he put to good use as a quality assurance inspector for the government. He also loved driving and he loved people, so naturally one of his jobs was for a car service (where he once chauffeured B.B. King). In retirement, he also served as a Guardian ad Litem, an advocate for children in the child welfare system, and on many boards and committees for the communities where he lived and worshiped. But he loved none of his jobs more than he loved being a husband to his wife Felyce, father to his daughter Suzette and son (-in-law) Jeffrey, and grandfather to his granddaughter Arielle and her partner Paul. His playfulness, love, generosity, tenacity, and wit suffuse the memories of all those who knew him. A memorial service in his honor will be held at Temple Israel (1901 N. Flagler Dr. in West Palm Beach) on Monday October 31st at 4pm. He will be buried with full military honors at South Florida National Cemetery on Tuesday, November 1st at 10am. All who knew him are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in Marvin’s memory can be made to JASMYN, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ young people in Florida.

Marvin Allen Thomas

June 1, 1930 - October 19, 2022