
Mayra Brandt
Jun 03, 1980 - Feb 18, 2024
Boca Raton, FL
In Memory of Mayra Brandt
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Bernard Marcus
May 11, 1929 - Nov 03, 2024
Boca Raton, FL
The billionaire behind “The Home Depot,” - Bernard Marcus, met his death at 95. Bernard Marcus was a billionaire who made his fortune by establishing the Home Depot with Arthur Blank in 1978. This home improvement retail giant began in Atlanta and soon expanded to more than 2,000 stores throughout the nation. Moreover, it has grown to a stock market valuation of approximately $400bn. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, Marcus himself had a net worth of nearly $7.4bn. He was a major contributor to the U.S. Republican party, particularly to Trump. Bernard was born in 1929 to Russian Jewish immigrants and was the youngest of four siblings. He got his degree in merchandising and marketing from Rutgers University. Soon, he went headfirst into the retailing industry, working for various chains. His first marriage to Ruth Schwartz ended in divorce. In 1973, he married Billi Morris. Along with his wife - Billi, Marcus started The Home Depot in Atlanta, a city where he was a well-known philanthropist. The couple also founded the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University for children with developmental disabilities. Bernard served as the CEO of the Home Depot until 1997. Then, he became the company’s chair until he retired in 2002. Bernard also donated to Jewish and medical organizations and multiple charities, along with a $250 million grant that helped in opening the famous Georgia Aquarium in 2005. He also assisted in establishing the Marcus Heart and Vascular Center at Piedmont Hospital as well as the Marcus Trauma Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. In addition to his wife - Billi, his son from his first marriage, a stepson, and seven grandchildren survive him.