Obituary of Marvin Albert Blumenfeld
Key Largo, FL - Formerly of Monticello, NY
Marvin Albert Blumenfeld’s life was defined by devotion to his family, an indomitable entrepreneurial spirit, and a profound commitment to philanthropy; he passed away peacefully on June 19 at his home at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. He was 99 years old.
A beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and mentor, this consummate New Yorker leaves behind a towering legacy of leadership, generosity, and sharp wit that touched countless lives across nearly a century of vibrant living.
Marvin was a fixture of the men’s clothing industry from the 1950s through the early 1990s, first running his father’s bespoke clothing store B & B Clothing in Queens, and later serving on the boards of the Fashion Institute of Technology and The New School/Parsons School of Design where he is still listed as an Honorary Member. He was a founding member and former president of NAMSB (National Association of Men’s Sportswear Buyers) and President of April-Marcus, a retail and advertising consulting firm representing over 250 major stores nationwide from his offices in the Empire State Building. As President of the public company Eagle Clothing, he was sought after as a recognized expert on retail trends and factory outlets and frequently cited and featured in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, and Forbes.
A dedicated boater from a young age, Marvin enlisted in the Merchant Marines (now part of the US Coast Guard) at age 17. He was honorably discharged in July 1946.
After earning his college degree from Adelphi University, he launched a life-long career in clothing retail at B & B where he sold singer Art Garfunkel his first suit and appeared on the Jack Paar show. He followed this period working at Eagle Clothing before moving his young family to the Catskills in 1964 to purchase the historic Hammond & Cooke department store in Monticello, NY.
Marvin used his entrepreneurial and community spirit to help run street fairs, vintage car events, fashion shows, and fundraisers for the town; he sponsored races at the Monticello Racetrack. He was a lifelong Mason, Elk and an active member of Kiwanis and supported the Community Hospital. An avid skier, he was a founding member and former commissioner at the local ski area, Holiday Mountain.
In 1969, Marvin played a role in the nearby Woodstock Festival, selling thousands of dollars of tickets and helping to fly in food for the concertgoers.
With the decline of the Catskills in the early 1970s, Marvin relocated to Manhattan to head up April-Marcus. He mentored his clients about buying, layout and the power of advertising. He believed that, “If you’re going to open a business, shout it, shout it loud, and shout it often…”
Marvin’s passions were boating and travel. With homes in New York, Nantucket, and Key Largo, he pursued his love of the sea, running his yacht the Ivy B up and down the East Coast and in the Bahamas or patrolling the waters as a Flotilla Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary based at the Ocean Reef Club.
A Jamaica, Queens native and the youngest of four, Marvin’s life was defined by a love of family, including his beloved wife Ivy who predeceased him in 2017, his four children: Jeff (Joan) of Boulder, Colorado, James (Patricia) of Needham, Massachusetts, Robert (Susan) of Mt. Kisco, New York, and Jane (the late Michael Berman) Silverman of Miami; seven grandchildren: Alexandra, Julia, Jenna, Austin, Victoria, Westley and Cole; and his five great-great grandchildren: Wyatt, Hayden, Eve, Jessie, and Sadie.
Marvin’s was a life that mattered, and he leaves behind a family who adored him, friends who cherished his companionship, and a world that is undoubtedly better because he was in it.
He would often say that the best thing about living to 99 was that “I’ll never die a young man.”
A funeral service will take place on Monday, June 29, 2026 at 11:00am at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, 388 Broadway, Monticello NY 12701. Interment will follow at the Temple Sholom Cemetery, Southwoods Road, Monticello, NY 12701.
Donations in his name may be made to: Upper Keys Humane Society ukhsociety.org/donate or the Abraham L Blumenfeld Endowed Scholarship at the Fashion Institute of Technology https://impact.fitnyc.edu (Choose “other” under Designation).
Arrangements are honorably entrusted to the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home - 845-794-7474 or www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.
