Harriet Green Marks Alperin died in Danville, CA on September 4, 2016. She was born on June 29, 1925 in New York City to the late Goldie James Green and Henry Green. Harriet was proud to have been raised in Abingdon, VA where she made lifelong friends and lasting memories. Harriet followed her beloved older brother, of blessed memory, Seymour (Bo) to Duke University, where she graduated in 1946. After graduation, Harriet married Albert R. Marks Jr., a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. They moved to Savannah, GA where they raised their family. Harriet was a world history teacher and member of the founding faculty of Jenkins High School in Savannah where she taught for 15 years. They were married for 25 years until Al's untimely death in 1972 after a long illness. Harriet reconnected with an old friend from Duke, Alfred Alperin of Memphis, TN. She moved to Memphis when they were married in August of 1974. While in Memphis, Harriet spent many years as a docent at Brooks Museum of Art. She was a proud member of Hell's Grannys and the Pete and Sam's Birthday Club. Harriet and Alfred were married for 36 years until his passing in 2010. She spent the last four years in Northern California, close to where her daughter and family live. While there, she was an outstanding member of the Walnut Creek Yacht Club where she entertained frequently.
The world has lost a spark of life. Harriet was a smart, interesting, interested, adventurous, fun loving, independent, brave, and amazing woman. She made friends everywhere she went, as people responded to her outgoing personality and thoughtfulness. She had a wonderful sense of humor and she will be remembered for her curious mind, her generosity in word and deed, and her loving loyalty to friends and family. She was proud to have been the longest surviving past champion of the game show, The Price is Right, having been a winner in its inaugural year of 1959. Her passion for learning and knowledge was never ending whether it was traveling to all corners of the earth (except Egypt...her eternal white whale), watching Jeopardy on a nightly basis, or sitting and reading the Sunday New York Times from front to back. She was a loyal and passionate fan for her beloved Duke Blue Devils and Memphis University Tigers.
Harriet is survived by her two children, daughter Randy Marks Pike (Dr. Irving Pike, favorite son-in-law) and son James Albert Marks (Patty Greener Marks, favorite daughter-in-law); grandchildren Sarah Pike Shapiro (Danny), Mark Albert Pike (Leah), Albert Greener Marks (Rabbi Rachel), and Michael Eugene Marks; great-grandchildren Ava, Jake, and Max as well as her sisters-in-law Jan Green and Jerelyn Alperin and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Alfred's daughter Linda Rohrbach and her sons James (Lisean DeSantis) and Andrew,
The family is grateful for Harriet's Walnut Creek Medical Team, John Muir Health, The Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living and Hospice of the East Bay for their compassion and professional care.
Her funeral will be held at Temple Israel Chapel in Memphis, TN at 11:30 am on Friday, September 9th, 2016. The family will be available for visitation at Temple Israel from 3:00-5:00 pm on Friday afternoon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Temple Isaiah, The Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living, Hospice of the East Bay or charity of your choice.
Harriet believed it was important to always have a trip planned as something to look forward to and she lived by the adage "Life is hard, yard by yard; inch by inch, it's a cinch!" She will be missed dearly by her family and friends.