Marilyn Krovitz Blunt

After a long and valiant fight against pancreatic cancer, Marilyn passed away peacefully with her family by her side Oct. 18 at her home in Palm Desert, California. Right up until the end she was visiting with friends and family, even enjoying a big dinner party.  True to form, she insisted on trivets and the best wine glasses for her lovely dining room table! and right up until the end, she was cracking jokes, smiling and ever-so-gracious.

As a leader, Marilyn’s purpose-driven career as a teacher brought her much joy as she inspired young minds in the classroom, helping teen-age parents finish high school while learning how to care for their family and guiding students to college.  Born in Duluth, Minnesota to Abe and Sally Krovitz on July 5, 1935, Marilyn attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics at University of Minnesota where she played clarinet with the University Symphony.  Opera was her favorite.  Marilyn also enjoyed playing the piano at home as a way to relax. Marilyn married Jim Lange and moved to Sacramento where they had one son, Kirk David Lange.  Marilyn later married Larry Blunt in Sacramento.

Marilyn went on to earn her master’s degree in early childhood education at the California State University Sacramento.  She then dedicated her career to the Grant Joint Union High School District where she taught Home Economics and Science at Las Palmas and Foothill Farms Junior High Schools and served as a mentor teacher, volunteering to train student teachers for the CSUS credentialing program.  She worked tirelessly on the teen clinic, the curriculum council, the science club and the anti-smoking program for the district.  After 25 years in the junior high program, she became director of the Pregnant Minor School-Age Parent Program for the district’s continuation high schools.

She tried to retire after 53 years of teaching but couldn’t stay away from the classroom.  Lasting only one year, she returned as an active substitute teacher.

Teaching wasn’t enough to keep her dynamo spirit still.  As a side job, she and her husband Larry owned and operated the Chantilly Lace Boutique formerly located at Loehmann’s Plaza in Sacramento. She also thrived on volunteering at the March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, the Sacramento Children’s Home and crisis nursery and the SPCA. She loved entertaining guests and playing games, specifically tennis, bridge, and dominoes — all while being a loving and proud grandmother to Carolyn and Aaron Lange. Her family was most dear to her heart. Somehow, she juggled it all with finesse and perfection.

Marilyn, the daughter of the late Abe and Sally Krovitz, is survived by her husband Laurence Blunt;  Mother of Kirk Lange (Duffy Kelly); Sister of Robert Krovitz (Shelley); Grandmother of Carolyn and Aaron Lange; Aunt of David Krovitz (Dr. Lauren Hyman);  Dr. Gail Krovitz (Jeff Greenstein); Matthew Krovitz (Hilary Bloom) and  many cousins.

In memory of her loving mother, Sally Krovitz, Marilyn and Larry helped build, design and furnish a pre-school room at Temple Israel in Duluth. The preschool provides childcare so parents can attend services.  Internment will be private in Duluth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of her mother to the Sally Krovitz Children’s Fund, Temple Israel, 1602 East Second Street, Duluth, Minnesota,
55812-1690.