07/19/2025
Marion Dorothy London
Davis, CA - Dr. Marion Dorothy London (Kolbert) has passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on July 13, 2025, just a few days shy of her 85th birthday.
Her parents, Martha and Oswald Kolbert, fled the N**i invasion of Czechoslovakia and lived temporarily as refugees in England, where Marion was born. They emigrated to the United States soon afterwards, arriving in NY Harbor on Thanksgiving Day.
Marion grew up in New York City and earned her BA in history at Queens College, where, at 18, she met the love of her life, Peter, who she married in 1961.
She taught history at Flushing High School and the progressive New Lincoln School, NYC. She later completed a masters in school counseling and then a doctorate in clinical psychology at Boston University. The latter was a major feat as she was also continuing to work as a counselor in community settings and being a loving mom to her two young children.
Together she and Peter shared a wonder-filled life. From New York, they moved in 1967 to Montreal, where Marion was an employment counselor at the Jewish Family Services, high school counselor and, with Peter, a founding member of the Montreal Community Development Corporation. It was in Montreal that Jonathan and Danielle were born.
Returning to the United States in 1971, the family moved into a big and beautiful Queen Anne house in the seaside town of Fairhaven, MA. Marion helped create a lovely home and congenial setting for Jonathan and Danielle to flourish in school and among friends and for her and Peter to practice their respective careers; Marion as a clinical psychologist for over 40 years and Peter, eventually, Chancellor Professor Emeritus in art education.
Marion placed herself in the thick of social justice causes, marching in Washington, DC for civil rights, to end the Vietnam War, and ban the bomb. As part of first wave feminism, she co-founded the Women's Health Clinic in New Bedford, MA, created and conducted the peer counseling services for the underserved, produced women's liberation conferences, and gave professional and community presentations on related topics. She later set up the peer counseling program at Jonathan and Danielle's high school.
Marion and Peter built a country home in Shelburne Falls in 1995, where Marion became a steadfast volunteer gardener with the renowned Bridge of Flowers. They also gardened around their Patten Hill home in the hilly, woodsy country with views down the valley, bordered by dairy farm pastures. They frequently hosted family and friends for long walks, dinners, snacks, and drinks on the porch.
Galvanized by the devastating events of 9/11, Marion could not tolerate remaining on the East coast while her children and grandchildren were on the West coast. She came home from work that same day of those terrifying events and said, "Peter, we are rejoining our family; we are going to close our careers here in Fairhaven, where we had lived for 35 years, sell our house, and move West, where our kids are." So that is what they did in 2002.
Initially Marion and Peter spent half the year in Shelburne, the other in Davis, and for the last 15 years, Davis has become their permeant home, Shelburne their summer retreat.
In Davis, Marion volunteered with the Davis Arboretum, sang with the Davis Chorale, provided childcare for their grandchildren, and she and Peter still had time for each other, once again gardening and enjoying new friends and exploring this gorgeous state.
Marion was beautiful, she was bright, a dearly beloved wife, mother and grandmother. She was a committed and dearly loved friend, and a devoted and beloved psychologist. Her cooking was as creative as it was delicious; she was an exuberant gardener, creative flower arranger, avid choral singer, elegant swimmer, smooth runner, adventurous traveler, welcoming all to her home.
Several years ago, Marion began to be diminished by dementia and in the last months of her life she was lovingly and carefully attended to by her family and dear caretakers, who our family deeply thank. Marion was loving, beloved in life, and will remain beloved by all who knew her.
Marion was predeceased by her parents, Martha and Oswald Kolbert; stepfather, Edward Mucha; and sister, Katherine Kolbert. She is survived by husband, Peter; children, Jonathan London and Danielle London; daughter-in-law, Nancy Erbstein; grandchildren, Maya London, Ben London, Hannah Robins, and Ella Robins; and grandson-in-law ,Daniel Farb.
Donations in Marion's memory may be made to the UC Davis Arboretum, The Davis Chorale, or the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.
Graveside services for the immediate family will be conducted at the Davis Cemetery. There will be memorial celebrations of Marion's life later this year in Shelburne Falls and Davis.
