In Loving Memory of Marilyn Kilgus Moosnick, valued friend and supporter.
Marilyn served on the board of the Kentucky Conference for Community and Justice and is a 1979 Humanitarian Award recipient. Her contributions to the Lexington community are greatly appreciated and she will be missed.
MOOSNICK Marilyn Kilgus, 81, widow of Dr. Franklin B. Moosnick, died at her home in Lexington on Tue, Oct 18, 2011. A champion for arts organizations in Lexington, a leader in many civic endeavors, an advocate for human rights and a dedicated Zionist, proud mother, aunt and devoted grandmother, Marilyn’s unexpected death leaves a void in the lives of everyone who knew her and who appreciated her remarkable spirit.
The only child of George and Golda Lanz Kilgus, Marilyn Kilgus was born in Charlestown, IN on June 3, 1930 and soon moved to Lexington when her father took a job with Kentucky Utilities. Marilyn graduated Lafayette High and attended the University of Kentucky, earning a BA in Journalism. During the 1950’s, she worked as a reporter for The Lexington Leader, covering Education and Community Affairs. It was during an interview, while reporting a story on polio, that Marilyn met her future husband, Dr. Franklin B. Moosnick. The two were wed in 1957 and celebrated their 53rd anniversary last November. Marilyn lost her beloved Franklin 10 months ago. It was also as a reporter in Lexington during the 1950’s that Marilyn became involved in volunteering for local arts groups, primarily the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra and the Lexington Children’s Theatre. From 1965 to 1995, Marilyn’s journalism skills were put to use as host of the “Bluegrass Personalities” talk show on WLEX-TV, also acting as the station’s women’s program director. But, it was her enduring love of the visual arts, music and dance that blossomed into her advocacy work on behalf of arts organizations and a lifelong commitment to fostering the arts in Lexington.
Marilyn Moosnick served as the first chair of the Lexington Arts and Cultural Council (now LexArts) and helped to found the Lexington Ballet Company and Lexington Opera Society. She served on the boards of the Living Arts and Science Center, Lexington Children’s Theatre, and many other arts organizations, including the Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville. Marilyn served on the Lexington-Fayette County Public Arts Commission. She was instrumental in planning and fundraising for the restoration of the Lexington Opera House and the creation of ArtsPlace. She was a board member of the Kentucky Arts Council under five governors, serving as Chair of the Council from 1992-96. In recognition of her years of service, the state arts council honored her with its Milner Award in 1998. In the 1970s, Moosnick was appointed to the Expansion Arts Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts and later served on the board of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. In 2008, she was especially honored to receive the Michael Newton Award for leadership skills and dedication to the united art fund movement, from Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading non-profit organization for advancing the arts in America.
Marilyn Moosnick was also a dedicated community service volunteer and activist for diversity and civil rights. She held leadership and board positions for a wide range of organizations in Lexington, including the Kentucky Conference for Community and Justice, the Ronald McDonald House, Housing for the Handicapped and the Women’s Network of the Kentucky Democratic Party. Marilyn was a dedicated member of the Ohavay Zion Synagogue and the Jewish community in Lexington. She was a past chair of the State of Israel Bonds of Fayette County and was a member of the board of directors of the Central Kentucky Jewish Association. She served as President of the Ohavay Zion Sisterhood from 1975 to 1977. Marilyn also held local, regional and national leadership positions in Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America. She was a Lexington Chapter and Central States Region President, served on the National Board, and was instrumental in the creation of Hadassah’s Midwest Area Cooperative. Some of the Hadassah projects that Marilyn was particularly dedicated to include the Hadassah Medical Organization, Young Judaea and Youth Aliyah.
Survivors of Marilyn Kilgus Moosnick are her four children, Jeffery Lazarus (Brenda Hausler), Kibbutz Ketura, Israel; Gregory Matthew (Karen Bacdayan), New York City; Madeline Golda (Dr. Jonathan Brown- stein), Baltimore; and Ross Asher, Baltimore; two nieces, Dr. Miriam Moosnick, Lexington and Dr. Nora Rose Moosnick (Dr. Theodore Schatzki), Lexington; great- niece, Helena Schatzki; great- nephew, Louis Schatzki; five grandchildren, Yuval and Sivan Moosnick, Israel, Maura Moosnick, New York City and Sam and Sarah Brownstein, Baltimore. In addition to her beloved husband and parents, she was predeceased by brother-in-law, Dr. Monroe Moosnick, sister-in-law Sonia Novak Moosnick, and a nephew, Dr. Leslie Moosnick. Funeral services will be held at 12pm Fri, Ohavay Zion Synagogue. Burial will follow at the Lexington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the Ohavay Zion Synagogue, Hadassah, LexArts, or to any artistic endeavor that raises your spirit. www.milwardfuneral.com
Obituary taken from the Herald Leader