By Thomas Clarke,
Former Assistant Controller of Endowment, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
HOSCHTON, Ga. | It is hard for Atlanta to say goodbye to Bernie Marcus whose compassion and generosity inspired the world to be a better place.
Marcus, via Wikipedia.
I grew up in Doraville near Buford Highway where the first Home Depot started. After the September 11, 2001 tragedy, I prayed to God to send me where I was most needed. The answer to my prayer was my new job as assistant controller of Endowment at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Bernie made his fortune as co-founder of the Home Depot retail chain.
During that time air travel was shut down for a while and people were afraid to travel. The economy and tourism was renewed when I handled the Bernie Marcus gift to the Georgia Aquarium, a $250 million donation. Bernie also donated to the Israel Emergency Campaign to support Israel. All told, he donated over $2 billion to more than 300 organizations until his death on November 4, 2024.
In his book, Kick up Some Dust, Lessons on Thinking Big, Giving Back, and Doing it Yourself (by Bernie Marcus with Catherine Lewis,) Bernie wrote:
“As long as I have a heartbeat, I will continue to focus on philanthropy, but I refuse to leave my business sense at the door.”
Bernie’s example encouraged me to buy more Home Depot stock when the stock market was down. Bernie wrote “If you keep toxic or unproductive associates, managers, or executives your business will suffer in the long run.” Home Depot stock went back up again from Bernie’s good business practices of treating the employee and customer right. Bernie would personally take complaint calls and visit stores to improve service.
Bernie applied those same business principles when donating to charity. Bernie had a motto “Do the most good with the best people to have the biggest impact.”
Bernie focused on five areas of giving that included Jewish causes, medicine, youth, free enterprise and community. “You are never too young or old to do something big”, he wrote. Bernie Marcus transformed Grady Hospital and its Marcus Trauma Emergency Center is named for Bernie. We will have to live without Bernie Marcus, but Atlanta cannot live without Grady and the Marcus medical centers.
Bernie never let all the obstacles of discrimination against Jewish people stop his positive attitude of doing business and humanitarian work.
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