Marlene Portnoy co-founded the DTRF after her husband, Steve, was diagnosed in 2004 with a retroperitoneal desmoid tumor. While he was treated with surgery and radiation, Marlene experienced frustration with the lack of information available and the lack of research on this rare disease. This kickstarted her goal of accelerating research and the search for a cure.
After graduating magna cum laude from Albany State University in 1981, Marlene pursued a career in sales, first working at Corning Glass Works and then at Playskool Toys, a division of Hasbro Toys, where she served as a sales representative and later as a District Sales Manager. Afterwards, Marlene took time to raise her two young children, during which she also became active in community service, with activities such as running various social action programs, participating in the local soup kitchen, and working on golf outings and walk-a-thons for local community interests.
Marlene resides in Tuxedo, NY, with her husband. She enjoys spending time with her family, which include two beautiful daughters, Brittany and Danielle, two wonderful sons-in-law, Adam and Mike, and three adorable grandsons, Grant, Mason, and Brooks. Marlene also enjoys such active pursuits such as running, hiking, biking, and skiing. She has a passion for traveling and experiencing other cultures.
