Marilyn Macauley Bishop

Marilyn Macauley Bishop, April 15, 1934 – June 12, 2026

Marilyn Macauley Bishop, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to so many, passed away surrounded by family on June 12, 2026, at the Christian Health Center, Wyckoff, NJ.

Marilyn was born on April 15, 1934, in New Rochelle, NY, to parents Myriel (nee Welton) and Irving Post Macauley and was raised with her older siblings John (Jack), Irving Jr. (Mac), and Doris. During her childhood, the family lived in many different cities: Scarsdale, NY; Louisville, KY; Memphis, TN; Greenwich, CT; and Guilford, CT This was because her father, who was with the aluminum producer Reynolds Metals, was a vital supporter of the war effort during WWII and managed many business and production sites around the U.S.

Marilyn attended several schools growing up, where she made many lifelong friends. While living in Connecticut, she attended Greenwich Academy, then went to Saint Margaret’s School in Waterbury, CT, where she graduated in 1952, together with a class of 36 women. After graduation, she went on to Hobart & William Smith College, where she would meet her future husband, Robert James Bishop. After graduation, Robert (Bob) completed U.S. Navy OCS and was stationed in San Diego, CA, but kept a close eye on Marilyn, and they were soon married on April 16, 1955, in Madison, CT. After the wedding, they drove their 1953 Pontiac Catalina across the country to San Diego, and in 1956, welcomed their first son, James (Jim). Lieutenant JG Bishop was honorably discharged in San Francisco in 1957 after completing his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Wyckoff, NJ, became Marilyn and Bob’s home for the next 40 years, raising three sons, Jim, John, and Warren, several cats, and a dachshund named Schnapps. Marilyn was happy to be settled in Wyckoff after years of moving around the country. She was a homemaker and an active volunteer at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ, the Wyckoff Economy Shop, and various local charities. She loved summers at the family beach house on the Long Island Sound in Madison, CT, where the Macauley and Williams families, including grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, would gather annually for vacation, spending time boating and enjoying seafood, especially lobster, her favorite food.

Bob eventually retired from his family businesses, Electric Service & Repair and Bishop Sales Companies, and Marilyn and Bob began a new adventure, making a new home in Wilmington, NC. They joined a very welcoming community and made many new friends during their 25 years in NC. Marilyn continued her gardening and enjoyed learning about plants native to the South. They loved to travel and cherished memories of the places they visited - from Hawaii to Maine to Europe, and everything in between. They felt so fortunate to experience it all.

Marilyn and Bob returned to Wyckoff in 2022 to live at The Vista, a community on the Christian Health campus. Again, they made new friends and were especially thankful for the kindness and caring ways of everyone at their new Vista home.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob); sons Jim and his wife Nina, John and his wife Virginia, and Warren and his wife Dani; grandchildren Kaitlyn Bishop and her husband Robert Flynn, Christopher and his wife Kayla, John Bishop and his wife Jennifer Sherry, Tyler, Morgan, MacKenzie, Hunter and his wife Kara, and Chelsea; and great-grandchildren Joseph, Julia, Henry, Lily, Nina, Noah, and Jordan.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a burial service on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 12:30 pm at the Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery, Wyckoff, NJ.

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