We mourn and honor Marna Feldt who passed away Feb. 20, 2023, in Red Bank. She was born May 27, 1931, in Red Bank.
Marna was the daughter of Bessie (Doris) and Harry Feldt, who predeceased her, as did her sister Corinne (Feldt) Stutts (Warren), and brother Leonard Feldt (Natalie).
She is survived by her nephews and nieces, Jonathan P. Stutts, Paul A. Stutts, Sarabeth A. Stutts, Sarah A. (Feldt) Roach, and Daniel C. Feldt; five great-nephews and nieces, and many, many dear friends around the world.
A graduate of Rumson High School (1949) and Ursinus College in Pennsylvania (1949-1953), Marna participated in summer volunteer work projects with the American Friends Service Committee in Austria, Germany, Jamaica and Colorado, as well as others in Dormsjö and Stockholm, Sweden. She spent several summers as a guide and translator at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm and a year at the Tollare Folk High School in Saltsjö-Boo, Sweden. She also taught at the George School in Buck’s County, Pennsylvania (1953-1956), served as executive secretary for the Lisle Fellowship in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and as assistant director for the American-Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia.
After receiving her M.A. in Scandinavian literature at the University of California-Berkeley (1963-1966), Marna was hired by the newly established Swedish Information Service in New York, operating under the Swedish Foreign Ministry. She worked there for 30 years, retiring as Senior Information/Cultural Affairs Officer in 1996. Among her many honors were the King’s Medal (Sweden) for Devoted Service and the Swedish Order of the Polar Star. She also received the Amandus Johnson Service Medal from the American-Swedish Historical Museum.
She loved the theater and literature, hiking in Scandinavia with friends, walking and swimming at her retirement community, and anything mango. She formed enduring friendships throughout her entire life.
Memorial Services for Marna Feldt were held Feb. 23 at Congregation B’nai Israel in Rumson, led by Rabbi Sagal.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in her name to your own favorite charity, with notifications sent to her niece at sastutts@gmail.com.
The article originally appeared in the March 23 – 29, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
