Marcus N. Tarver passed away on July 8, 2020 in Lyons, Texas.  Details of his passing are not available at this time.  I am reposting a tribute expressed by Paul Aiello, his "brother from another mother".

July 9, 2020:  Last night I received word that one of my very best friends from Crawford, Marcus Tarver, had passed on. After reading the message 3 or 4 times to make sure I understood what I was reading, after the disbelief, came the questions. How? Why?

As all of you fellow Colts from 1977-1980 know, athletically Marcus was a beast! One of the strongest hitters on a football field of that era. His ability earned him a 4 year scholarship to the Univ. of Hawaii. On the basketball court, an enforcer! Instinctive in his ability to drive to the basket, get positioning for rebounds. Without a doubt, the best athlete the Crawford Class of ‘78 produced!

But Marcus was far more than an exceptional athlete. To say that he was an exceptional human being is an understatement.

We were a very diverse group of people at Crawford in those days. White, Black, Mexican, Persian, kids getting bussed in from Navy housing in Tierrasanta. We were all made to get along, and we did, and we did so at no ones direction. There was rarely ever a hint of any strife on or off campus due to one person or another’s racial makeup.

Marcus and I hit it off from day one as sophomores. We had the same common interests; I loved football, he loved football; I loved basketball, he loved basketball. But there was something way deeper about him that drew me and others to him. Despite his exceptional athletic ability, he was never arrogant. Quite the contrary; he was one of the most humble people I’d ever met. The difference in the color of our skin only made my admiration for him more profound. For me, if there were any stereotypes, he shattered them...all! He was simply a good person.

Marcus was an extremely shy and private person by nature. But if he felt trust in you he would open up. It was only after I gained his trust I learned the funny, devilish, break all the boundaries side of him. He had this unique, guttural laugh, that when you heard it, you knew it was Marcus! Marcus felt just as comfortable sitting listening to the Isley’s and the Brothers Johnson to body-whompin’ with the surfer crowd at Marine St. Stereotypes meant nothing to Marcus, he defied stereotypes and racial lines. In becoming good friends with Marcus I got to know his parents very well. They opened their house to me constantly. I got to know his siblings, Teresa and Byron. As I got to know the Tarver clan more, it became obvious why Marcus was such a good person; he came from a great family! I learned acceptance and love from them, and that color is no barrier whatsoever to people respecting and caring for one another.

I know there are a lot of Colts that have fond memories of Marcus. There are a lot of his brothers and sisters with the San Diego Fire Dept. that are hurting today. Rest assured, there aren’t many more than are hurting more than me.

To his wife and his children; I know what a devoted family man Marcus was. My heart breaks for all of you.
You are all in my prayers.

Marcus....I’m thinking of that one afternoon when Peg and I were on our honeymoon on Oahu and you were our “tour guide” for the week. Walking on a totally desolate Sunset Beach on the North Shore...no one there but the 3 of us during a rainstorm. And how you couldn’t wait to get back to Honolulu. We went to Tony Roma’s for dinner that night...you had the “all you can eat” ribs! I don’t think they ever recovered financially from that!

I love you, my man. Rest In Peace.

Paul Aiello and family

https://www.allendave.com/guestbook/marcus-tarver