Rev. Marvin H. Hummel - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

Rev. Marvin H. Hummel

Born November 27, 1927

The Rev. Marvin Hummel, age 86, of Newark, DE, a long-time priest associate of St. James parish, died early Friday morning, May 23, 2014 after a period of declining health.

Reverend Hummel was born in Middleburg, PA, on November 27, 1927. He was ordained as a deacon in 1954 and to the priesthood in 1955. During his active ministry he served at All Saints Church (Delmar), Nativity Church (New Castle), and was also the Episcopal Chaplain at the University of Delaware from 1959 to 1971. He retired in 1988, and in addition to being a priest associate at St. James, he also served as priest-in-charge at several nearby churches in New Jersey. In addition to his pastoral career, he spent a significant time as an educator teaching English and American Studies at the University of Delaware. Reverend Hummel also had a weekly newspaper column of insight and humor that he wrote for the Newark Post for almost 20 years.

He is survived by his children, son Lee Hummel and wife Donna and their sons Nathanael and Elijah, son Michael and wife Susan and their daughters Natalie and Emily and his daughter Mary Lisa and husband Scott. He is also survived by his good friend John Nuss and wife Debby who faithfully cared for Marvin over the last few years.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the St. James Episcopal Church, 2106 St. James Church Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808 or to the University of Delaware Professional Theater Training Program, in care of the Development and Alumni Relations Gifts Receiving and Processing Office, 83 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Newark, DE 19716.

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11 Condolences for Rev. Marvin H. Hummel

  • Marvin and I have been friends for more than ten years. He came into my life at a difficult time for me and we clicked immediately. We were regular dinner friends every two months for the last decade. I enjoyed his quirky sense of humor and his quick mind. He was always polite to me in asking about each of my family members and how they were. Marvin had a great love for his two dogs that he had over the years and we shared dog stories. I did so enjoy his animation in telling me a good story. He was a man of God who was sensitive and yet by the time I met Marvin he was free to express his displeasure with things that need fixing. I will miss him and will forever keep our time together in my memory. I am so glad to have met him.

  • Very saddened buy his passing. A great friend and mentor from the University of DE. We played a lot of basketball together and was inducted into our Fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, because of his wonderful relationships and guidance for us. He also officiated, wirh Fater Ralph Martin, at Joy’s and my wedding, 40 years ago. My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to all of his Family. He will be missed by everyone he came in contact with.

  • Fr. Hummel had an immense impact on my life from my Freshman year at UD, in 1964, when he conned my two best friends and myself into coaching little league football, until well after he baptized me, in 1971.

    I miss him and his firm but gentle guidance.

  • Father, Professor, Brother, coach, mentor but most importantly friend. These are the roles that Marvin filled in Carol’s and my life through college, marriage, careers, child rearing, their marriages and finally grandchildren. For almost 50 years Marvin has been a part of of the highlights of our families life. He will be greatly missed.

  • I had the honor and privilege of waiting on Father Hummel during the course of his working with his finances at the bank that he used for years. He was a wonderful, thoughtful and funny man who always provided pearls of wisdom from the jokes and stories that he told. I will miss calling him on a monthly basis just to check in and see how he is doing. I believe that he is know doing absolutely wonderful and telling his “corny” jokes to any one who will listen.

  • I am so saddened at the lose of a very dear and respected friend .He will be greatly missed.But I know he is up in heaven watching over us .

  • I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of Rev. Marvin Hummel. He was a wonderful man, a man of deep faith and deep understanding of the human condition and its need for spiritual guidance and inspiration. I counted Rev. Hummel as my friend and mentor. He will be missed. I extend my sympathy to his family and his large circle of friends. Heaven has gained a bright and shining star.

  • I was saddened to read of the passing of Rev. Hummell in the Fall issue of the Delaware Messenger. I knew Rev. Hummell well in my SigEp years at the University of Delaware, 1966-71. We played racquetball and had many discussions; to say he was competitive was an understatement! What a wonderful man. Although I did not stay in touch with him over the years he had a truly positive influence on my life. Rest in peace and many thanks. Your friend, John G. Stinson

  • Just learned of Rev. Hummel’s passing. He had a very positive impact on my child, teen-age, and young adult years – in so many ways. What a great man!

  • The memory of Rev. Hummel crossed my mind tonight and I went to the computer hoping he was still on this earth. I was saddened to see I was almost three years late.

    After a mediocre high school career I entered the University of Delaware’s Parallel Program in 1972 at the intersection of Northeast Blvd and 30th Street in Wilmington. I took several courses from the Rev over the next 21 months. He did a lot to steer me straight with his ironic humor and semi-comic facial expressions. I went on to graduate at the main campus and have had a successful career since. Rev. Hummel was also a good friend of another influential professor of mine–Charles Bohner.

    Thanks Rev.! Rest in Peace, although somewhere out in the multiverse I’m sure the Big Guy has reassigned you to shake things up in an ultimately positive fashion. Keep it going! Sincerely, your student always, Lee Phillips

  • I am in tears again, having found in my treasured things a poem written by Marvin in the summer of 1971, a wrenchingly painful time in our lives when he tried to help a bunch of college kids understand inconceivable loss, that he couldn’t understand himself. I lost touch with all of them trying to run from the pain that we all felt. If only I had not. . . He wrote ” After the tears for ourselves, flows the love for each other
    And the pursuing hearts must break their quest They must wait in some semblance of peace we call resignation After that happens, the Mother of Sorrows and Joy Can teach us Easter”