1945
Marsha
2016
Marsha Knight-Scharnberg
November 24, 1945 — September 2, 2016
MARSHA GRAY LAUBENSTEIN KNIGHT-SCHARNBERG
Marsha Knight-Scharnberg died On September 2, 2016, at the age of 70.
Her death was sudden, and followed a path of unpredictability that highlighted her most amazing life.
Marsha was born in Philadelphia on November 24, 1945, and grew up in Ashland, Pa. She was the daughter of Raymond P. and Doris (Lappin) Laubenstein. She spent her summers at Pocono Lake Preserve, PA.
She was in the first female graduating class from The Kent School in Kent, CT. Following her graduation from Kent, she spent a year in England at St. Helens School in a program sponsored by the English Speaking Union (ESU). Marsha graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and took her first job in Boston at publisher Little Brown and Co. We all hoped she would stay there so we could get our first novels published. That was not to be, as she moved back to Philadelphia and became a paralegal, with no thoughts of meeting a wealthy lawyer.
As luck would have it, she did meet and marry a Philadelphia lawyer, Dan Knight. Wealthy or not, he had excellent taste in wine and brie. That union produced a lovely daughter, Gwendolyne, currently pursuing her Ph.D., and living with her husband, Erik, in Vienna, Austria.
Marsha and Dan were active participants in The Savoy Company of Philadelphia and she relished her perennial role as Queen Victoria in their Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Dan passed away after a brief battle with cancer, and Marsha lived as a single mother until her daughter introduced her to Jim Scharnberg, Master and Huntsman of the Skycastle French Hounds.
Jim had lost his wife also to cancer and was looking for the kind of disorder that only Marsha could bring to an otherwise orderly life. Marsha and Jim married in 2005 and she immediately assumed leadership of the household and the Skycastle Tea Committee with grace and aplomb. Her funny "Reports from the Field" became an institution eagerly anticipated by all. Marsha was an extremely witty, clever and intelligent person, and she and Facebook were a union like no other. Her comments and commentary were widely adored.
Marsha is survived by her husband Jim Scharnberg in Malvern, PA, her daughter Gwendolyne Keimpema (Erik) in Vienna, Austria, siblings Albert Laubenstein (Karen) in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Jim Laubenstein (Jan) in Easton, PA, Marilyn Mamone in Camp Hill, PA and Lulu Laubenstein (Bill Good) in Wyndmoor, PA. She is also survived by step children Eric Scharnberg (Cristina) and their daughters Olivia and Ayla in Montpelier, Vermont, and Alex Scharnberg in Charlotte, North Carolina. Step children with Dan Knight include Charles Knight, Edward Knight, Carol Flaig and the late Jennifer Yoder. Beloved nieces and nephews include Brittany Laubenstein in Canoga Park, CA, Michael Laubenstein in Los Angeles, CA, Matt Laubenstein (Karna) in Washington DC, Bryce Laubenstein in Easton, PA and Anderson Good in Washington, DC. She and her aunt, Janet Butterbaugh, were the closest of lifelong friends.
Her 71st birthday would have fallen on Thanksgiving day this year, so as you sit surrounded by family and friends, raise a glass in honor of our sister, mother, wife and friend.
A service in celebration of her life will be held Saturday, September 17th at St. Andrews Episcopal Church at 11:00 am in Ludwigs Corner, PA, with a reception at Ludwigs Inn to follow.
People wishing to remember her may make donations to the Savoy Company of Philadelphia and the Skycastle French Hounds.
Marsha Knight-Scharnberg died On September 2, 2016, at the age of 70.
Her death was sudden, and followed a path of unpredictability that highlighted her most amazing life.
Marsha was born in Philadelphia on November 24, 1945, and grew up in Ashland, Pa. She was the daughter of Raymond P. and Doris (Lappin) Laubenstein. She spent her summers at Pocono Lake Preserve, PA.
She was in the first female graduating class from The Kent School in Kent, CT. Following her graduation from Kent, she spent a year in England at St. Helens School in a program sponsored by the English Speaking Union (ESU). Marsha graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY and took her first job in Boston at publisher Little Brown and Co. We all hoped she would stay there so we could get our first novels published. That was not to be, as she moved back to Philadelphia and became a paralegal, with no thoughts of meeting a wealthy lawyer.
As luck would have it, she did meet and marry a Philadelphia lawyer, Dan Knight. Wealthy or not, he had excellent taste in wine and brie. That union produced a lovely daughter, Gwendolyne, currently pursuing her Ph.D., and living with her husband, Erik, in Vienna, Austria.
Marsha and Dan were active participants in The Savoy Company of Philadelphia and she relished her perennial role as Queen Victoria in their Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Dan passed away after a brief battle with cancer, and Marsha lived as a single mother until her daughter introduced her to Jim Scharnberg, Master and Huntsman of the Skycastle French Hounds.
Jim had lost his wife also to cancer and was looking for the kind of disorder that only Marsha could bring to an otherwise orderly life. Marsha and Jim married in 2005 and she immediately assumed leadership of the household and the Skycastle Tea Committee with grace and aplomb. Her funny "Reports from the Field" became an institution eagerly anticipated by all. Marsha was an extremely witty, clever and intelligent person, and she and Facebook were a union like no other. Her comments and commentary were widely adored.
Marsha is survived by her husband Jim Scharnberg in Malvern, PA, her daughter Gwendolyne Keimpema (Erik) in Vienna, Austria, siblings Albert Laubenstein (Karen) in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Jim Laubenstein (Jan) in Easton, PA, Marilyn Mamone in Camp Hill, PA and Lulu Laubenstein (Bill Good) in Wyndmoor, PA. She is also survived by step children Eric Scharnberg (Cristina) and their daughters Olivia and Ayla in Montpelier, Vermont, and Alex Scharnberg in Charlotte, North Carolina. Step children with Dan Knight include Charles Knight, Edward Knight, Carol Flaig and the late Jennifer Yoder. Beloved nieces and nephews include Brittany Laubenstein in Canoga Park, CA, Michael Laubenstein in Los Angeles, CA, Matt Laubenstein (Karna) in Washington DC, Bryce Laubenstein in Easton, PA and Anderson Good in Washington, DC. She and her aunt, Janet Butterbaugh, were the closest of lifelong friends.
Her 71st birthday would have fallen on Thanksgiving day this year, so as you sit surrounded by family and friends, raise a glass in honor of our sister, mother, wife and friend.
A service in celebration of her life will be held Saturday, September 17th at St. Andrews Episcopal Church at 11:00 am in Ludwigs Corner, PA, with a reception at Ludwigs Inn to follow.
People wishing to remember her may make donations to the Savoy Company of Philadelphia and the Skycastle French Hounds.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marsha Knight-Scharnberg, please visit our flower store.
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