Marilyn Rose Welsch

On Thursday, March 11, 2021 Marilyn Rose Welsch, grandmother, wife, and mother, died peacefully at her home in Livingston, New Jersey from cardiopulmonary arrest. She was 80 years old.

Born on July 3, 1940 in New York City to Gertrude and Harry Rudman, Marilyn grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania with her older sister, Ellin. Summers were spent traveling and attending sleep-away camp. An ever-aspiring writer, Marilyn graduated from Allentown High School in 1958 and attended Boston University. She worked as a camp counselor during the summers. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from BU’s School of Public Relations in 1962.

After working for a couple of years in the publishing industry in New York City, Marilyn married David Welsch on May 3, 1964 and moved to West Orange, New Jersey to start a family. In 1965, she gave birth to her son, Adam. In 1968, Marilyn and her family moved to Livingston where she raised her son, and took care of her husband, in the same house in which she would live for the rest of her life.

After 1983, when her son left home to attend college, Marilyn looked to start a new chapter of her life. She became increasingly interested in the intimate apparel business. In 1990, she formally joined David at Southwest Corset Corporation and Cupid Foundations, Inc. and, by the mid-90s, had become Secretary/Treasurer, as well as a member of the Boards of Directors, Executive Committee, and Senior Management Committee. Over the next three decades, Marilyn devoted herself to the success of the business. And, as importantly, she came to think of Southwest Cupid’s, and Cupid’s, employees as members of her extended family, and she cherished the friendships she developed with those in her adopted industry.

One of Marilyn’s greatest wishes came true when she became a grandmother, first with her welcoming of Anna in 2003, and then with the births of Alexander in 2006 and Teagan in 2008. She loved spending time playing with them, and watching them grow and mature.

Marilyn loved to read romance novels, watch detective and crime dramas on TV, attend plays, and see movies. She believed strongly in contributing to charitable causes. She was also an avid tennis player and autograph hunter, and loved to travel and dine out. Few things made Marilyn happier than an order of ribs, a nice glass of wine, and some extra bread for the table.

Marilyn and David were married for nearly 57 years. In the last 31, they spent virtually all of their time together at work, at home, and on vacation. For those who know them, it’s no cliché to say that Marilyn and David were perfect for each other.

Marilyn is survived by her husband David, son Adam, daughter-in-law Claire, step-granddaughter Anna Torrez, grandson Alexander, granddaughter Teagan, brother-in-law Lenny Dwares, niece, Rachel Shanfeldt, nephew David Dwares, sister-in-law Susan Marcellus Welsch, brother-in-law Bob Marcellus, and nephew Craig Margolies.

She’ll be laid to rest at the New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, New York.

Memorial gifts, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Boston University’s School of Communication or WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.