Hundreds Celebrated Marc Marotta's Life

Hundreds attended Marc Marotta's visitation and funeral on Monday (April 13). Marotta was a Marquette University and Harvard Law graduate who once served as former Governor Jim Doyle's secretary of administration, and had been serving as chairman of the Bradley Center Board.

It was an emotional day for the people who knew and loved Marotta. They arrived at the Church of Gesu at Marquette University. Those in attendance included Packers head coach Mike Mccarthy, former Marquette basketball players, former governor Jim Doyle, among many community leaders.

\"Milwaukee should feel proud of itself because Marc Marotta chose Milwaukee,” said former Governor Jim Doyle.

\"Whether it's the highly visible things he's done at the Bradley Center, certainly in his work as secretary in my administration during tough economic times, he made sure the schools had funding, and made sure that people were getting health care,” Doyle said. “He was a man with a big heart.\"

He was a partner and business lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP and his colleagues were dropped off in a bus. Another bus had basketball players from Homestead High School.

Marotta had been involved in community sports and his children also played on the team.

\"We're going to miss seeing him in the stands,” said Kevin McKenna, head boys basketball coach for Homestead High School.” “We're going to miss hearing him in the stands.”

“We're going to miss the big handshake at the end of the game,” McKenna said. “We are going to miss the hug, whether we won or lost. You know what we will miss is just his support.\"

Marotta died on April 8 after he suffered a brain aneurysm while sitting in his car outside the Wisconsin Athletic Club in Glendale. He was 52 years old.

\"We all lost a very dear friend in Marc Marotta and as you can see by the long line of people to pay their respects,” said Tom Copa, former Marquette Basketball player. “He had a lot of friends and a lot of fans.\"

Marotta's close friends say the family is receiving a lot of support during this difficult time. Michael Hart had been his friend for 30 years.

\"He was a wonderful man to a lot of people,” Hart said. “This world, in particular this city is a better place for having graced by his presence. It's sad. He was a young man, taking way too soon.\"

Marotta leaves behind his wife and four children.

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