Ira Marion 1945-2013

National Alliance for Medication Assisted Recovery
 
Press Release

Contact Persons:
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, edirector@methadone.org
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org
Phone/Fax: 212-595-NAMA

It is with sincere sadness and deep regret to have to report on the passing of a NAMA-Recovery Board of Directors member Ira Marion. Ira passed on Monday evening, January 7, 2013 at Beth Israel Medical Center after a struggle with cancer. He was a constant and prolific supporter of Methadone Maintenance Treatment and will be sadly missed by both patients and professional colleagues alike.

Ira's contributions to the advancement of this life-saving treatment for opioid addiction are numerous and legendary, and he was an untiring champion of both patients' rights and patient centered care. His vision of quality treatment was reflected in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Program which he administered for many years. He was courageous in expressing that he was a "product of the system" and that medication assisted treatment is effective and saves numerous lives on a daily basis. Ira was a member of the founding committee of NAMA over 25 years ago. He was proud of assisting in the development of The MARS Project, a collaboration between Einstein and NAMA-Recovery.

We ask that you keep Suzanne Hall-Westcott, his children and grandchildren, and everyone dear to him in your thoughts and prayers. The family has planned a private service is being planned and we ask that you refrain from reaching out to the family.

A memorial service will be planned that will give all of us the opportunity to pay our respects and honor Ira. You can contact NAMA Recovery if you wish to be notified about the service or wish to share your thoughts and we will forward the messages to the family.

Ira will be missed by all who knew him personally and professionally and we send his family and loved ones our sincere sympathy and condolences. His is a universal loss to the field of addiction treatment which will be felt for years to come.

Rest in peace, Ira you will not be soon forgotten by both patients and professional associates.


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