May 18, 2021
In May 2021, former DGA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Marilyn Jacobs-Furey passed away.
As one of the earliest women in Guild leadership, Jacobs-Furey – who joined the Guild in 1960 as an Associate Director for NBC – was involved in Guild service for more than 35 years. As Assistant Secretary-Treasurer on the National Board for more than 20 years, along with roles on Guild Councils and Committees, Jacobs-Furey was an active part of the Guild’s Eastern leadership and a strong advocate for members in the New York area.
In addition to her service on the National Board from 1979-2001, she served 11 terms on the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council, from 1971 to 2006, where she was elected Council Chair from 1979-1981, with additional offices as 1st Vice Chair, 2nd Vice Chair and Secretary-Treasurer. She also served on the Guild’s 1984 Network Negotiating Committee and was an alternate member of the Directors Guild Foundation from 1982-2002. Jacobs-Furey also was a Trustee of the DGA-Producers Pension & Health Plans.
In 1992, Jacobs-Furey was presented with the Franklin Schaffner Achievement Award which is bestowed upon Associate Directors and Stage Managers in recognition of their service to the industry and the Guild.
Born in New York City in 1929, Jacobs-Furey spent most of her career at NBC where she began in 1955. Until her retirement in 2006, she had experience working in all forms of live and tape television including legendary talk shows like The Tonight Show with hosts Steve Allen and Johnny Carson; game shows like Tic Tac Dough and Concentration; daytime dramas like The Doctors and Another World; and NBC News programs, specials, conventions and inaugurations.