Marian Wadler Strug

Marian W. Strug, 73, died Wednesday February 21, 2018, at home in Houston, following a long, brave battle with cancer. Marian leaves her children Paul & Leslie, Mark & Polina, Mike & Lisa, and her grandchildren, Brett, Julia, Madeline, Rebecca, Byron & Brandon; her sister Bobbie and the late Arthur Newman, her brother David & sister-in-law DeDe Wadler, and countless close relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Byron Strug and her parents Irving & Ida Wadler. A lifelong Houstonian, Marian grew up in Bellaire, and was active throughout the community. Upon graduation from Bellaire High School in 1962, Marian attended Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 1966, and went on to study in the Tulane School of Social Work. While in college, she was president of Sigma Delta Tau sorority, secretary of the Pan-Hellenic Council, chair of the University Center Board's music committee, and a member of the Residence House Council. After meeting Byron in New Orleans, the newlyweds moved first to Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, followed by St. Louis, Missouri. They then returned to Houston to raise their family, and Marian began becoming such an integral part of the local community. Marian worked 10 years as a social worker for the Senior Adult Department at the Jewish Community Center of Houston. While working at the JCC, she was a dedicated volunteer at Bellaire High School while her sons attended high school. As her sons Mark & Mike moved on to college at her beloved alma mater, Tulane University, Marian continued her volunteering as the Houston chair of the Tulane Alumni Admissions Committee. She was also the recipient of the Tulane Volunteer of the Year award in 1991. This led to her next career role as a regional admissions representative for Tulane, which she held in the mid 90's. A kind, caring and charitable person, Marian lived by the motto of "Do unto others as you would have them do onto you." Over the course of her life, Marian dedicated time and personal resources to a variety of endeavors, including serving on the board of the Main Street Theater. In raising three sons who were so close in age, Marian had no choice but to be active. Taking the boys to Astros, Oilers and Rockets games, family road trips in the station wagon, serving refreshments to the neighborhood kids who would gather at the Strug house to play--she was always going and doing. Even after her beloved Byron passed away, Marian continued being active -spending time with friends and family, traveling, and enjoying Houston's arts and theater offerings. Marian's greatest pleasure in life, however, was spending time with her six grandchildren. She took them to numerous Broadway shows, countless sporting events, and memorable family trips. From attending dance recitals, theater performances, baseball & basketball games, soccer & volleyball matches, and gymnastics meets, Mimi was always there to be the biggest fan for her grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Byron and Marian Strug Memorial Fund at Tulane University or Main Street Theater's Education and Outreach Programs.

Marian Wadler Strug

June 18, 1944 - February 21, 2018