London motivated by love for late father
At first, Laurie London discouraged her son from embarking on a project that has won him national exposure, but now she is his number one supporter. Laurie London said when her son, Marc London, first told her about his plans to hold a “Marathon for Memory” in honor of his father, Ira T. London, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994, she did not support his efforts.
“I kind of discouraged him. It seemed improbable for any human to do, but he persevered,” she said.
Laurie London’s attitude changed, however, after London’s father passed away from complications related to the disease two hours before Marc was to go on the air. Suddenly, she found herself encouraging her son to continue on with his plans.
“I told him he had to go on. That is what his father would have wanted him to do,” she said. “Marc’s father would be busting his buttons right now. He was always Marc’s biggest supporter.”
Laurie London said she is very proud of her son and what he is doing as well.
“I’ve always been proud of Marc. We’ve had some hard times with him. We’ve definitely had some disappointments, but I’ve always been proud of him and this, this is his finest hour. I don’t have words for it. It’s blowing me away. He’s so tenacious,” she said.
As Marc London approached his 80th of 120 hours on the air, his mother, wife, Rebecca, friends and fellow disc jockeys rallied around him in support, and Laurie London said she knows her husband is supporting him as well.
“I know he is up there rooting him on. Marc put us through a lot during his adolescence and he and his father exchanged some really cross words, but through it all (Ira) always let him know he loves him unconditionally. And now, as he does this for his father, I know he wouldn’t miss it.”
Laurie said it’s amazing the amount of awareness Marc has been able to raise for Alzheimer’s.
She said one out of every four people who live past the age of 85 will be affected by Alzheimer’s disease. She said it is uncommon for someone not to at least know someone who has suffered from the disease. She said Marc’s efforts are making people more aware of the fact and the effects it has on lives if nothing else.
“It has personalized it for people, the amount of donations and support he is receiving is an indication that people are listening,” she said. “He’s definitely raising awareness at least in this area, if not in other places. This is a small college station, only reaching areas in a 30-mile radius, yet we’ve been getting calls from as far away as Canada. So he’s definitely making a difference.”
Laurie London is trying to be as supportive as possible because from the beginning this has been something that Marc wanted to do for his dad. She describes Ira London as a brilliant, funny and honest man.
“He was just a genuinely good person. If he didn’t have a kind thing to say, he didn’t say anything at all. He was very funny, witty and very honest.”
Laurie and Ira were married for 30 years, and she said they shared 28 very special and happy years, before Ira’s disease took over.
Laurie said she, Marc and daughter Rachael are doing okay after losing such a good man. She said the support from family and friends and, now, those who have rallied around Marc’s campaign have helped tremendously.
But she said all in all, the mourning process took place years ago.
“We’ve been saying goodbye for a couple of years now. You can’t prepare to lose someone you love, but I said my goodbye and I was holding him when he died. So, I’m doing okay.”
Laurie London said the family enjoyed a very memorable Father’s Day with Ira in June and that he remembered everyone and enjoyed time with his grandchildren. She said Aug. 1 he recognized everyone but was going in and out and it was at that point she knew they were really losing him.
Laurie London said dealing with Alzheimer’s disease in a family is very difficult and she’s proud that her son is unselfishly trying to help others from experiencing the pain they’ve experienced.
“He said he wanted to do this for his dad and to help just one person not to go through what we’ve had to, and I’m trying to support him as much as possible,” she said.
A memorial service is being held in Old Main Chapel on the Cal U campus at noon on Saturday.
I’m trying to respect Ira’s wishes. He never wanted a funeral.
“(Ira) always told me he wanted us to have a party, a celebration of his life, not a funeral. We want anyone who has a story to share or a remembrance to come join the celebration.”
Donations are still being accepted online at iratlondon@yahoo.com. Pledges should include donation amount, address, phone number and T-shirt size if more than $25 is donated.
Donations should be sent to the Natali Student Center, 428 Hickory St., California, Pa., 15419-1394, c/o “London’s Marathon for Memory.”
Checks should be made out to the Greater Pittsburgh Alzheimer Association.
To participate in the online auction, members should log onto ebay. The auction is listed under the category “charity,” then under “London’s Marathon for Memory.”