Necrology

Michael Magzis '59

Mar. 30, 1937-Aug. 20, 2006

Michael Magzis ’59, owner and president of a small manufacturing company and a devoted alumnus, was born on March 30, 1937, to Max Magzis, also president of his own small company, and the former Frances Fuchs, in Brooklyn, NY. Mike Magzis grew up in Great Neck on Long Island and came to Hamilton in 1955, following his graduation from Great Neck High School. He became a member of Psi Upsilon and majored in history. Awarded the Darling Prize in American History, he was graduated in 1959.

Aided by a referral from President Robert W. McEwen, Michael Magzis landed a job in New York book publishing, in the art and production department of Farrar, Straus & Cudahy. Having become an editor, he remained in book publishing for 16 years, with Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., and later as a senior editor for
Praeger Publishers.

In 1975, Michael Magzis left the publishing field to join his father in business as vice president and sales representative of Amity Notion Co. in Manhattan. He helped salvage the company, finally liquidated it in 1985, and then took a position with a competitor. In 1993, after six years as a group product manager for AGH Trimsource, Inc., a wholesale supplier of zippers, Velcro, and snaps, located in Manhattan’s garment district, he bought a small business of his own, Care Label Mfg. Corp., also serving the garment industry in Manhattan. As a result, he found himself “happier, more invigorated, and more focused than I’ve ever been,” enormously busy, but never bored.

Michael Magzis found relaxation in music and the arts in general. With his wife, Harriet Brent, a professional musician whom he had married in 1988, he took great advantage of the cultural opportunities New York City had to offer, especially music as “a ferocious listener.” He also enjoyed playing what he termed “B-level” tennis. He faithfully and enthusiastically supported Hamilton, becoming a highly effective free agent for the Annual Fund. He helped plan class reunions and was president of the Class of 1959 at the time of his death.

Michael Magzis died on August 20, 2006, in his native New York City, of complications resulting from lymphoma. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Laura Beth Magzis, born of his first marriage, in 1964, to Joan M. DuMars. Also surviving are two stepsons and a sister.

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