Marilyn Sokol, 80, Pioneer In NJ Film And TV Industry

TEANECK, NJ — Marilyn Sokol, 80, of Teaneck, and Spencertown, New York, died Tuesday after a brief illness.

She started her career as a dental hygienist. She earned an English and journalism degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and was the first professional hired by the New Jersey Film and Television Commission.

She organized the commission's files, which are still used today by television production companies. Subsequently, she was a literary publicist with Solters, Roskin & Friedman where she specialized in representing authors and magazines. She later retired.

She later completed studies in Gerontology at Fordham University and wrote a weekly column on aging for The Record.

She was passionate about theater, dance, museums and other areas of the arts.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years Leon; daughters Randy, Deborah and Laura; grandchildren Jake, Jaron, Luke, Zoe, Alec and Lucy; brother Edward and sister Elaine.

Visitation will be at Gutterman Musicant Funeral Home, 402 Park St., Hackensack Friday at noon.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations be made to Nature Israel, 28 Arrandale Ave., Great Neck, N.Y. 11024, or The Jewish Home at Rockleigh, 10 Link Drive, Rockleigh, N.J. 07647.

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