Marvin Eugene Luster

Marvin Eugene Luster, 82, of Matthews, North Carolina, died from complications of COVID-19 on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at the Royal Park Nursing Home in Matthews, N.C. where he had been a resident for five years. Marv, as he was more commonly known, was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 27, 1937, the son of James Tinsley Luster and Vera Mae Jones. Marv spent most of his childhood in Southern California, graduating from Belmont High School , attending Los Angeles City College where he ran track and graduating from UCLA in 1961, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Education and where he was a star football player for the UCLA Bruins. After college, Marv began a career of fourteen years as a professional football player in the Canadian Football League. He spent his off-season as a vocational teacher. Marv's career was highlighted by many achievements. Marv was drafted in 1960 by the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills. He received the Robert F Kennedy Most Valuable Player award in 1960 in the East-West Shriners All Star game in New York. After the game he was signed by the Montreal Alouette Football team to begin his career in Montreal, Quebec from 1961-1964 starring as a two-way player offensive end and defensive back or safety. He was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in Toronto, Ontario from 1964-1972 and then traded back to the Montreal Alouette's from 1972 - 1974 where he would have his last career game as a member of the 1974 Grey Cup. In 2006 Marv was voted one of the top 50 players (#35) in the history of the Canadian Football league. Career highlights as a Canadian Football League All-Star were in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972. Marv was in the Canadian Football East All-Star in 1961, 1962, 1966,1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972. Marv was also inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1990! In 1961 he met a young lady and fellow UCLA student named Sandra Ann Speights whom he married on October 27,1961, convincing her to join him in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. To this marriage were eventually born two sons, David and Alan and one daughter, Leslie. The Luster Family would enjoy their many years living in Montreal Quebec and Toronto, Ontario. In 1970, the Luster Family were interviewed my Canadian journalist, Maury Safer and featured on ABC's 20/20 as one successful American Black family living outside of the United States. Marv is survived by his ex-wife and longtime friend of almost 60 years, Sandra Harris, their son David Edward Luster and his wife Sandra Alvarado Luster and their two daughters, Simone Rae and Franchesca Ann; son Alan Speights Luster; and daughter Leslie Ann Perry and her daughters Morgan Leslie, Lauren Ashley and Cameron Eve, and granddaughter, Bianca Howard as well as numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Herbert De Fice and granddaughter Alana Ann Luster. Marv will always be remembered as a loving father and co- parent. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, a gathering of friends and family with a celebration of life services are being planned for a later date. To be automatically alerted to this update please select the MORE tab and select "Subscribe to Updates". Thank you for keeping the Luster Family in your thoughts, prayers and acts of kindness during this difficult time. You may see more about Marv at his Facebook memorial page, https://www.facebook.com/marv.luster?eid=ARBUPYfaWnpznhM1IZAz8hw9XwztbySDuAqnUgDDewU48wNio_7L7yQdlMK-iF4P5QIYydfAwtwKeBvV You may also read more about Marv at https://www.cflapedia.com/Players/l/luster_marv.htm https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BgwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=860%2C772231 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marv_Luster

Marvin Eugene Luster

November 27, 1937 - May 24, 2020