Stanley John Marks

Captain Stanley John Marks, USN Ret. (U.S. Navy Submarine Service) Died on Dec. 21, 2023.

Stan was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 13, 1931 to parents who immigrated from Northern Ireland. (His Dad fought in the British Army in WWI and was a German POW for many years during the war.)

Upon graduation from high school in Brookland, he entered the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. After graduation in 1953 he entered the Navy OCS program at Newport R.I. was commissioned an Ensign in January 1954 and reported to the USS Pomfret SS-391.

Qualifying to say the least he felt was unique – for the first 6 months or so he stood watches in every department – Engine rooms, Maneuvering room, Torpedo rooms, Radio shack, and Navigator’s assistant. The men were great to him and were it not for them he feels he would have been in deep trouble.

Stan served during his navy career on the submarines LAPON, CONGER, PARGO, LOGGERHEAD, BONEFISH, SANDLANCE, POMODON, finishing his at sea service with command of the USS MEDGREGAL SS480.

After completing his duty on the PARGO he was ordered to the west coast to the USS Loggerhead at the Submarine Reserve Training Center, Swan Island, Portland, Oregon (1959 to 1961). During this time he met and married his wife (Moonyeen Marshburn) at the Sand Point navy chapel in Seattle.

While on his tour on Swan Island he served as C.O. of the Reserve Training Center when the Captain retired without a relief. When the relief did arrive he unfortunately died 6 months later of a heart attack. Stan often commented of one of his Chiefs on the Loggerhead, Arnie Banzaf, and the crew of 21 other Chiefs and 1 second class seaman won the Nimitz trophy while Stan was managing the Sub Reserve Training Center C.O. a second time.

His next duty station was on the USS Bonefish SS-582 during the Cuban missile crisis. Then on to the USS Sandlance SS381 as X.O. which was then processed to turn it over to the Brazilian Navy. On to the USS Pomodon as X.O. From there he went as the assistant ops at SUBFLOT ONE in San Diego. Upon completing that tour Stan was given Command of the USS Medgregal SS480 homeported in Hawaii.

From submarines Stan received orders to Navy War College at Newport R.I. This was followed going to the Pentagon in SUBOPS.

He requested his twilight tour in Washington state and served as C.O. of the Naval Eng. Facility, at navy base Banger. Following his retirement Stan had a successful second career in real estate with Mac Mackensie for 25 years.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, a daughter Elizabeth Swan (Candy), two sons, Robert and Colin Marks, and three grandchildren, Leigh and Desmond Marks and Michael Swan.