Obituary for Marvin Malik Lateef
Marvin Malik Lateef was born on September 23, 1951, in Chicago, IL to the late Clarence Lawrence and Virginia (Lawrence) Louis, who passed away on July 8, 2022. He departed this life suddenly on July 19, 2022.
Marvin was educated in Chicago, attending Robert Lindblom Technical High School, graduating in 1969 in the top of his class. Marvin was always a straight A student and looked the part with his wire frame black glasses. He was considered ahead of his game, but rumor has it – it was his first cousin Butch, who was academically ahead by one year, who taught him what she’d learned the day before he went to class. After high school he moved to Beaumont, Texas to attend Lamar University. He later moved to the Washington, DC area and received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University in 1982. At Howard University, he was inducted into the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Marvin was a great brother, mentor, and believe it or not a good athlete. He prided himself in taking long bike rides along Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park. He once ran over his brother in football to toughen him up and in the same calendar year taught him chess to smarten him up. He was a fierce protector of his younger brothers and would often stand up to neighborhood bullies.
In Beaumont, TX, where he has many extended family members, Marvin especially enjoyed spending time with his beloved cousin Ottice. Cousin Ottice has been a mentor and surrogate father to Marvin. Marvin affectionally attributes learning many life lessons from him. During his time in Texas, he worked at a record store and credits himself for bringing Motown and soul music to Beaumont. There he met his best friend, Craig Jackson, who was the best man at his wedding. Always with a love for music, Marvin had fond memories of attending classes and jam sessions with Chaka Khan and studying guitar with one of the Funk Brothers.
In the late 1970s, Marvin moved to Washington, DC. It was there he met his beautiful wife Brenda at Howard University. It was love at first sight! They were married in 1983 and then welcomed two wonderful children, Ayana and Miles. When his children were young, Marvin enjoyed taking them to visit the many museums at The Smithsonian Institute, especially the Air and Space Museum. He was happiest and proudest when attending a dance recital or piano recital for Ayana and cheering wildly for Miles at soccer matches and basketball games. Marvin was a believer and dedicated his life to Christ in 1983 and joined the Nineteenth Street Baptist in Washington, DC. He transferred his membership to First Baptist Church of Highland Park in 2005 where he has participated in the Tutorial and Men’s Ministries.
Marvin and Brenda were a happy couple and were married for married for 39 years. They enjoyed travelling, spending quiet time at home and weekly date nights. They were planning a road trip for later this summer.
Marvin had many interests and could engage in thoughtful conversations on many topics, he is known for his deep philosophical views on many contemporary issues. He loved spending time with his extended family. He was proud to host big holiday gatherings for family, especially on the Fourth of July where he showed off his barbeque skills. He also enjoyed his many sushi dinners with his dear friend Carl Brundidge. Marvin truly loved all music genres. He was just as comfortable at an opera or symphony orchestra performance as when he attended a jazz performance. Most recently he enjoyed a concert by his idol Herbie Hancock at the Kennedy Center. Marvin also loved mentoring young people in STEM activities. He was a counselor and mentor to elementary students in the “Kids in Chemistry” initiative and counselor and mentor on the Robotics team at Central High School. Marvin enjoyed photography and was campus photographer when he attended Lamar University. He enjoyed photographing sunrises and sunsets at the beach and the skyline of New York City.
Marvin retired from the United States Patent and Trademark Office where he served as a supervisory patent examiner and was an instructor in the Patent Academy. There he received numerous awards and commendations for excellence and dedication. Marvin acquired many lifetime friends while working and after retirement and has stayed in touch over lunch and phone calls.
Marvin leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Brenda Lateef, his daughter Ayana Lateef, his son Miles Lateef, devoted brothers Sequane Lawrence (Rufaro), Meshah Lawrence, Tracy Lawrence, his dear sister Sharon Louis and a host of relatives and friends.
Marvin was educated in Chicago, attending Robert Lindblom Technical High School, graduating in 1969 in the top of his class. Marvin was always a straight A student and looked the part with his wire frame black glasses. He was considered ahead of his game, but rumor has it – it was his first cousin Butch, who was academically ahead by one year, who taught him what she’d learned the day before he went to class. After high school he moved to Beaumont, Texas to attend Lamar University. He later moved to the Washington, DC area and received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University in 1982. At Howard University, he was inducted into the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
Marvin was a great brother, mentor, and believe it or not a good athlete. He prided himself in taking long bike rides along Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park. He once ran over his brother in football to toughen him up and in the same calendar year taught him chess to smarten him up. He was a fierce protector of his younger brothers and would often stand up to neighborhood bullies.
In Beaumont, TX, where he has many extended family members, Marvin especially enjoyed spending time with his beloved cousin Ottice. Cousin Ottice has been a mentor and surrogate father to Marvin. Marvin affectionally attributes learning many life lessons from him. During his time in Texas, he worked at a record store and credits himself for bringing Motown and soul music to Beaumont. There he met his best friend, Craig Jackson, who was the best man at his wedding. Always with a love for music, Marvin had fond memories of attending classes and jam sessions with Chaka Khan and studying guitar with one of the Funk Brothers.
In the late 1970s, Marvin moved to Washington, DC. It was there he met his beautiful wife Brenda at Howard University. It was love at first sight! They were married in 1983 and then welcomed two wonderful children, Ayana and Miles. When his children were young, Marvin enjoyed taking them to visit the many museums at The Smithsonian Institute, especially the Air and Space Museum. He was happiest and proudest when attending a dance recital or piano recital for Ayana and cheering wildly for Miles at soccer matches and basketball games. Marvin was a believer and dedicated his life to Christ in 1983 and joined the Nineteenth Street Baptist in Washington, DC. He transferred his membership to First Baptist Church of Highland Park in 2005 where he has participated in the Tutorial and Men’s Ministries.
Marvin and Brenda were a happy couple and were married for married for 39 years. They enjoyed travelling, spending quiet time at home and weekly date nights. They were planning a road trip for later this summer.
Marvin had many interests and could engage in thoughtful conversations on many topics, he is known for his deep philosophical views on many contemporary issues. He loved spending time with his extended family. He was proud to host big holiday gatherings for family, especially on the Fourth of July where he showed off his barbeque skills. He also enjoyed his many sushi dinners with his dear friend Carl Brundidge. Marvin truly loved all music genres. He was just as comfortable at an opera or symphony orchestra performance as when he attended a jazz performance. Most recently he enjoyed a concert by his idol Herbie Hancock at the Kennedy Center. Marvin also loved mentoring young people in STEM activities. He was a counselor and mentor to elementary students in the “Kids in Chemistry” initiative and counselor and mentor on the Robotics team at Central High School. Marvin enjoyed photography and was campus photographer when he attended Lamar University. He enjoyed photographing sunrises and sunsets at the beach and the skyline of New York City.
Marvin retired from the United States Patent and Trademark Office where he served as a supervisory patent examiner and was an instructor in the Patent Academy. There he received numerous awards and commendations for excellence and dedication. Marvin acquired many lifetime friends while working and after retirement and has stayed in touch over lunch and phone calls.
Marvin leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Brenda Lateef, his daughter Ayana Lateef, his son Miles Lateef, devoted brothers Sequane Lawrence (Rufaro), Meshah Lawrence, Tracy Lawrence, his dear sister Sharon Louis and a host of relatives and friends.