Marvin Zindler's family helps fight pancreatic cancer

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's been four years since we lost our friend and colleague Marvin Zindler to pancreatic cancer, and the KTRK Action 13 star will never be forgotten by us, or Houston TV viewers.

On Saturday, his family started the Houston area's first ever PurpleStride event to raise awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research.

Marvin's son Mark Zindler, a senior account executive at KLTV in Tyler, spoke at the opening ceremony and then joined his sister, Helen Rodgers, and brothers Marvin Jr., Don and Dan on the 5K run/walk.

The event was held at 8am Saturday at Oyster Creek Park. Organizers expected about 500 people to participate, but more than 1,200 runners attended for the timed 5K run/walk and 1K kids' fun run. There was also music, refreshments and children's activities.

Marvin's family told us the event raised more than $200,000 for the cause.

The Houston Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network commemorates November as National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, but funds are needed and accepted year-round.

If you would like to send a donation, make checks out to PurpleStride and mail them to: Zindler Service Co., 2450 Fondren Suite 113, Houston, Texas 77063.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Ripples of Marvin Zindler's legacy still being felt

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Five years ago, Marvin Zindler and one of Marvin's Angels gave Luis Romero one of the things he needed to succeed in school -- a new wheelchair.

This week, Romero will be graduating from high school, something he says he may not have been able to do without that gift. From the time he was born, Romero could not walk, but he's never let that stand in his way. "He blended in really well with his sense of humor," English teacher Shirley Lyons said. In Mrs. Lyons seventh grade English class at F.M. Black Middle School, it wasn't his disability that slowed him down. It was his old wheelchair. "All of us would help him push it and it was really heavy and it would always break down," Romero's friend Monique Martinez said. His teacher and students couldn't buy a new one, but that didn't stop them from doing something about it. "I told them a teacher's voice is only heard so loud, but a teacher's voice with all her students will be heard," Lyons said. One by one, they wrote from the heart. "I was very happy to see they really cared about me and they were really trying to help me out," Romero said. "I thought, 'Well, I really don't know if anybody is going to help us because we are just kids," Martinez said. But on the last day of school in 2006, their voices were heard. "You know how he is really loud, 'This is Marvin Zindler!' It was an exciting day for all of us," Martinez said. "It taught the students the lesson we want to teach them, their words have power," Suzanne Mihaloglou, Remoer's middle school principal, said. On his 14th birthday, Romero got that brand new chair. "It was like having a new car for him, and it gave him independence," Luis and Coralia Romero, Luis' parents, said. The past five years, it's gotten him up and down the halls on his journey towards graduation. "I learned that whenever you have hope for something and really hope for something, you might have a chance of it happening," Romero said. His story has left a lasting impression on so many. "I guess they all get A+++ for those letters regardless of any grammatical errors because it brought the greatest results for Luis," Lyons said. And it is an example of the Marvin Zindler legacy that lives on. Romero will graduate this Sunday at the George R. Brown Convention Center with 400 classmates from Waltrip High School. He plans on starting college at HCC in the fall, specializing in computer engineering and software programming. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Rice U hosts roundtable discussion for Marvin Zindler

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Rice University hosted a special roundtable discussion for our beloved former colleague, Marzin Zindler.

"Remembering Marvin: Reflections on a Houston Icon" included stories from former KTRK Anchor Shara Fryer and former weatherman Ed Brandon. Also on the panel, Marvin's former team were ABC 13 photographer Bob Dows and former producer Lori Reingold. Doctor Joe Agris spoke about how he and Zindler teamed up to help tens of thousands of children around the world. This was presented in connection with the Bayou City Noir: The Photography of Marvin Zindler exhibit. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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