Empowering Students to Experience the World: June Ross Marks ’49

She credits her time at the College to her father, who encouraged her to apply. While serving as an assemblyman in Albany, NY, he met a Vassar professor and “decided that I should go to Vassar.”

Though she wasn’t admitted as a first-year student, she transferred from Barnard College for her junior year. She spent her time at Vassar playing tennis behind Josselyn House and meeting new people, both of which supported her career in unexpected ways.

“Vassar really opened doors for me,” Marks said. “When you say you went to Vassar, people are impressed. It’s a great gateway to the world.”

After graduating with a degree in political science, Marks began her career as an intern in the Women’s Division of the Department of Commerce, helping women launch their own businesses. She later served as a rent examiner for New York State Rent Control before joining her mother in running an antiques and decorating business. Through it all, tennis remained a constant in her life.

June met her late husband, Alan Marks, on a blind date on the court and soon discovered a love that would shape her career: a passion for tennis wear and a desire to design it for women and children. After purchasing several athletic dresses from designer Helen Bush, Marks asked if she could represent Bush’s business, to which she agreed. Not long afterward, Marks launched her own line of women’s and children’s clothing, utilizing white fabric and colorful prints; her clothing became known for its distinctive fabric and craftsmanship.

For 45 years, she managed every aspect of the business, collaborating with “many skilled young homemakers to make the garments” and creating a new line of dresses every year. She also produced her own catalog for many years, with the help of Gretchen Tatge ’55, whom she met at a Vassar luncheon. Throughout it all, Alan, who was in the toy business, remained a steadfast supporter of her endeavors. She only stepped away from the industry after relocating following Alan’s passing.

The Markses were avid world travelers, visiting countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica when June was 80 years old. Their travels included memorable trips to Russia (then the Soviet Union), Israel, and Vietnam, her favorite destination, which she visited again through the Vassar Travel Program.

“I enjoyed traveling,” Marks said. “My husband was a traveler, although he always got frightened before we were ready to take off. But then he loved it!”

Besides traveling and tennis, Marks was also very involved in the League of Women Voters until she moved to her new home. Today, Marks is living a quieter life, playing bridge and hosting a group of friends on Wednesday afternoons. She has two children, three grandchildren, and a great-grandchild on the way.

“I’ve had a good life, I am proud of my family, and I have no regrets,” Marks said.

In celebration of her 60th Reunion, Marks wanted to give back to the College in a meaningful and lasting way. As a devoted Vassar volunteer over the years, she served on the AAVC Alumnae House Committee, attended nearly every reunion (even serving as co-chair of the reunion gift in 1997 and as reunion co-chair in 2004), and represented her class as co-president from 1999 to 2004 before later serving as vice president from 2014 to 2018. Wanting to create something more permanent than a one-time scholarship, she established the June Ross Marks ’49 Travel Fund in 2008.

The fund supports student travel, with a preference for trips connected to academic work. Among the projects it has supported: a student from Bangladesh who wanted to photograph fishermen along that country’s coast; a student researching historically vital archives on missing individuals in Germany; a student who accepted an undergraduate research position at a University of Nebraska Medical Center cancer research center; and a student who hiked the Appalachian Trail for the first time, despite never having backpacked before.

Through the June Ross Marks ’49 Travel Fund, she has created a lasting journey for students who, like her, are ready to explore the world.

Know of an alum from an earlier class—pre-1975—thriving and living an extraordinary life? Nominate an alum by emailing Heather Mattioli at hmattioli@vassar.edu.