Marjorie Van Cleef, a mainstay for decades of New Haven’s peace movement and social-justice teacher, has died at the age of 86.
Marjorie (Noll) Van Cleef was born in Philadelphia on May 3, 1935 to Elmer J. and Hilda (nee Barth) Noll. She grew up in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, was an active member of the Jenkintown United Methodist Church, and graduated from Jenkintown High School in 1953. Marge went on to study piano at the Conservatory at Oberlin College, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. She later received her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts, and completed all coursework toward her Doctorate in Education at UMASS as well.
Marge was a public school music teacher in Philadelphia and Coatesville, PA, and in New Haven. She was an inspiration to her students and saw the gift in each and every one of them. She later taught English and Writing at various community colleges in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Illinois. She was a life-long church organist, most recently at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Northeast Philadelphia.
Marge was a teacher and advocate for social justice. She was committed to a world without weapons, to the protection of the environment, and to equal justice. This led her to vigil and demonstrate, and to be a witness through civil disobedience when necessary. She participated fully in many peacemaking groups — as an organizer, strategist, teacher, and friend. These groups are too numerous to mention, but included Women Against Military Madness, the Trident Coalition, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Atlantic Life Community, Witness for Peace, and SANE/Freeze. She amassed several collections of significant documents related to this work and those collections are housed at colleges and universities in the United States.
Marge loved and was inspired by music from very early on in her life. She started playing piano at the age of 4 and it was her passion until her death. She had an incredibly eclectic interest in music, participated in multiple choirs, and attended concerts on a regular basis.
“Our friend, leader, challenger, organizer, valiant and tireless peace activist has breathed her last,” said Tina Shelton of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. “Her intellectual prowess was admired as much as her steadfast hold on her ideals. She read widely and integrated her constant learning into her action. She challenged our opinions and helped us to take another look, while staunchly advocating for anti-capitalist, anti-racism, and against all war and violence.
“She and her partner, Bill Dyson, created a monthly vigil against drones, recognizing that drones were potentially able to gain acceptance as a less lethal form of warfare, a view that she was determined to work against.”
Marjorie died at Pennsylvania Hospital on October 26, 2021. She leaves behind her husband, William Dyson, son, Christopher Van Cleef (Amber), daughter Elizabeth Van Cleef (Peter Quinn), stepchildren Sonia Mack, Will Dyson, Eric Dyson, and Michael (Keyona) Dyson, three grandchildren — Mattias Van Cleef, Lee Van Cleef, Eve Quinn; a brother, David Noll (Belle), and a niece, Michelle Noll.
A memorial service will be held at Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, 3820 The Oak Road, Philadelphia, at 11 a.m. on November 6, 2021. It is requested that all non-vaccinated guests please view the live stream that will be available, and all of those on site wear masks. There will be an outdoor reception immediately following the service.
A memorial service is also being planned in New Haven, details to be announced.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to The Native American Rights Fund, 1506 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302 – 6217, Partners in Health (identify Haiti), P.O. Box 996, Frederick, MD 21705 – 9942, and Women for Women International., P.O. Box 9224, Central Islip, NY 11722 – 9224