Marvin Stanley Reidbord
REIDBORD: Marvin Stanley Reidbord, age 93, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2023, at his home on Darlington Court in Squirrel Hill. Marvin was born in West Penn Hospital on Nov. 9, 1929, a true Depression-era baby. The son of Samuel and Dorothy Levenson Reidbord, Marvin is survived by his wife, Ruth Cooper Reidbord, son Todd Reidbord of Squirrel Hill, daughter Suzanne (Andrew) Cherenson of Lexington, Massachusetts, grandchildren Matthew and Daniel Cherenson, and brother Howard (Faye) Reidbord of Pittsburgh. Marvin grew up in Highland Park and attended Fulton Elementary School then Peabody High School where he was in the All City Orchestra, playing the violin. After graduation from high school, he took the streetcar further down Highland Avenue to Fifth Avenue and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated in 1951. He was then drafted into the Army and, during basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he took an officer’s advice and volunteered to go to Europe, rather than being sent to Korea. He was stationed first in Germany, then Paris, where he was assigned to work at the American Hospital, where he did not wear a uniform and had his own apartment. His favorite story, which he told often, was that one night while working late in the hospital, he saw a few uniformed men walking toward him. As they got closer, he noticed that one of them had stars on his shoulders — five stars, it turned out. It was General Omar Bradley, who asked Marvin, “How do you like the Army?” Without thinking, Marvin responded, “I was drafted.” The General laughed and thanked him for his service. When Marvin returned home, he entered pharmacy school at Pitt, and married Ruth Cooper on Dec. 19, 1954, at the Tree of Life Synagogue, with the reception at the Schenley Hotel in Oakland. Marvin opened Vanadium Pharmacy in Scott Township in 1962, and was known as a kind and compassionate pharmacist who would take care of his customers’ needs, especially families with young children. He was proud that he “never made a mistake” in his career as a pharmacist. After closing the drugstore, he worked as a pharmacist for the state of Pennsylvania and Stadtlanders, retiring in 1992. Marvin and Ruth raised their family in Mt Lebanon, and were active and longtime members of Temple Emanuel. Music was always important to Marvin. In his 40s, he resumed playing the violin with the Carnegie Civic Symphony/Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, led by conductors David Stock and Keith Lockhart. Marvin loved spending time with his family, especially vacations at the Jersey Shore, for the past 50 years in Stone Harbor and Avalon. He was happiest there, where he could smell the salt air and ride the waves. He and Ruth traveled often, frequently seeing their grandchildren and visiting friends and relatives all over the United States, Europe and in Israel. Marvin cared so much for little children, even those he didn’t know. Once at a restaurant, on a Native American reservation in New Mexico, he offered to pick up a young dad’s lunch at the take-out window, so he wouldn’t have to leave his baby alone at the table. When Ruth and Marvin moved to Squirrel Hill in 1998, Marvin made many new friends at the Jewish Community Center, where he “occasionally” worked out, but mostly sat around and told jokes to anyone who would listen. Marvin’s declining health made the last few years difficult, but he continued to go out to lunch, listen to music and visit with his grandchildren. The family is thankful for the dedication of his caregivers and doctors, especially Dr. Michael Finikiotis, who helped immensely over many years. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Sinai in Squirrel Hill. No prior visitation. Interment Homewood Cemetery. Shiva will be at Temple Sinai on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Contributions can be made in Marvin’s name to the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, where a fund has been established in his memory. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com PJC
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