Marc Hugo Roeloffzen

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the unexpected and sudden passing of our best friend and brother, Marc Roeloffzen, at the age of 62.

He is survived by his sister, Edmee Roeloffzen, and brother-in-law Jerry Conway, as well as close friends Mark Robertson, Richard Thornton, Armando and Leticia Munoz, Katy Prisco, Jessica Hogan, and many others.

Marc was born in Amstelveen, Holland, to Wilhelm B. Roeloffzen and Gysberta (Bettina) A. Jonker. After a short time in the Netherlands, he began a life abroad due to his father’s career with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines). With the family, he spent time living in Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Iran, Greece, and Sri Lanka. Apart from those countries he visited many, many more, including the Maldives, the Seychelles, Kenya, Thailand, Mexico, and many parts of Europe, with frequent trips back to the Netherlands to visit extended family. He loved this international lifestyle and was a natural explorer and adventurer, enjoying the many different cultures and landscapes he encountered. He was a true lover of nature, whether on land, in the air, or in the water. Marc had a particular sweet spot and appreciation for animals, both wild and domestic.

He graduated from Hong Kong International School in 1977. He completed some college in San Diego, where his sister, Edmee, was living. By the 1980’s he was living in the Bay Area, in Marin County, pursuing aviation training at the Sierra Academy in Oakland. For the next 40 some odd years he remained a resident of Marin, most of that time in Tiburon. For almost 30 of those years, he worked at the Corinthian Yacht Club, where he was the harbormaster. Marc was well-respected and loved by his community here in Tiburon and has often been described as a kind, loyal, and gentle man offering his friendship and assistance wherever he could.

It was also in Tiburon that he met the love of his life, Noreen (Coffin), and married her in 1997. They were together for 17 years, until her untimely and sudden death in 2009. In his free time, Marc read voraciously, was a student of history, loved to spend time with his friends and family, and sharing his own unique and interesting perspectives on the world. He was an avid traveler, especially to places known for exquisite diving. He also enjoyed playing golf, chess, flying small aircraft, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and recently exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica.

He is predeceased by both his parents and loving wife, Noreen (and his cat Poos). Those who knew him inevitably lost a piece of their heart when he died. He was a kind and caring soul who exuded a comforting presence, which will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He was and shall always remain, a loving and real gentleman. A private memorial celebration of life for Marc will be held at the Corinthian Yacht club on September 1, 2022. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the World Wildlife Fund.