Margery was born to a family of Betty (Kurzrock) and Irving (Bob) Fischer in the Bronx, New York on February 14, 1939. In honor of her birthday, her middle name Valentine. Throughout High School and College, she went by “Sunny”. When beaming love at her children, grandchildren and close loved ones the Sunny and the Valentine showed through.
Marge valued education so highly–for herself, receiving degrees from Hunter High School, Vassar College, Yale University and Syracuse University. As a young woman, she briefly taught at The Brearley School in Manhattan and at Wilson Junior High in Rochester. As a researcher and author at New York Statewide Youth Advocacy Project, she co-authored “Failing Students, Failing Schools,” an early data-driven endeavor to achieve equity in education for students from less-privileged backgrounds. As a mother and grandmother, she walked this talk, supporting everyone’s education with generosity, sincere interest and understanding.
She attended Syracuse University, received the degree of Master of Social Work and then practiced for decades as a psychotherapist in Rochester. She was a story keeper for her clients and for all her friends, family, and all her close associates, with interest in their struggles, joy at their achievements and empathy at their losses. Marge understood sadness at many levels–as an extraordinarily well-read individual, as a friend and parent, mental health provider and as an individual. For decades, Marge did “the work” of holding other’s pain and it didn’t interfere with her ability to enjoy a beautiful day, a wonderful meal, or a belly laugh with friends or at a favorite show or movie, however, Marge never reconciled herself to the suffering of children and could never excuse those who cause it.
Marge left New York City for California, New Jersey, Long Island and then finally settled in Rochester in 1969, always following her husband Richard’s career. While in her early years living in Rochester, she talked about someday returning to New York, as she continued to bloom where she was planted, Marge built a professional network and huge friend group. When the last of her children graduated from High School, she and Richard moved into the city, and her final address on Charlotte Street, in a fourth story apartment with a sunny balcony and a short walk to the Little Theater or Eastman School of Music, provided the urban vibe that she loved.
Margery and Richard built a cottage on Keuka Lake, and Birdsong was where she spent as much time as she could for the last 38 summers. The mistress of two grills (one for meat, the other for fish and veg) and a lust for Seneca Farms ice cream, she kept all family and guests well fed, and then treated herself to long, long swims. You could NOT keep her out of the water–she could handle the cold, and a direct hit from a careless jet skier only kept her on land long enough for the bump on her head to go down.
Marge is survived by Richard Rosen, her husband of 64 years, children Daniel Rosen, his spouse Pebble Kranz and grandchildren Oliver Rosen, Maggie Rosen and Gabe Rosen; Adam Calder-Rosen, his spouse Jennifer Calder and grandchildren Terrin Rosen and Aliyah Rosen; Deborah Rosen, her spouse Larry Marx and grandchildren Natalie Marx and Naomi Marx. She is predeceased by her sister Lynn Bernstein, survived by her only and cherished niece Amy Bernstein, Margery had deep and loving relationships with three generations of cherished cousins who greatly enriched her life and the lives of her children and grandchildren.
Funeral services at the Chapel at Temple B’rith Kodesh Tuesday September 29, 2026 at 10 AM followed by graveside service at Mt Hope Cemetery.
For those unable to attend in person, please CLICK HERE to Livestream the service.
A period of Shiva at Margery and Richard’s apartment at 50 Charlotte Street later that afternoon from 2 to 5 PM, and Wednesday from 11 AM to 2 PM. Park at East End Garage or on street.
