Marc Bluestone was born in Pittsburgh, PA. When Marc was four, his family, including his mother, father (a medical doctor), two brothers and sister, moved to Los Angeles.
Marc grew up exceptionally close to his mother, who, as he states, “since I opened my eyes at birth, she had been the guiding light of my life.” Marc adds: “The first biggest influence of my life, by far, from birth, now and forever is my precious mother in Heaven—PURE LOVE.” Marc's devotion and respect towards her evidenced the spirit of PURE LOVE. Marc has been revered and commended for the loyalty, compassion, and devotion he showed towards his mother throughout his life, as well as when severe medical conditions that threatened her life three different times required his full-time assistance every day for the last 5 years of her life. Marc states: “My precious mother, the biggest influence on my existence and being, passed away in 1993 at age 88.”
The second influence on Marc is the man who changed the world—Elvis Presley. “This started with Marc in 1954 before Elvis became famous and continues today for different personal reasons than has been stated before. Marc had the honor and privilege of meeting and talking with Elvis when he was 21 and again when he was 28. Elvis was such a wonderful and gracious person. Marc also had the pleasure of talking with some of his family later on. Everybody involved in Marc's life through the years—his family, friends and girlfriends—all knew the significance and presence Elvis has and had on him and the profound effect on him and why. There are numerous heart-warming stories.”
As Marc grew up, he found that he was exceptionally gifted in playing sports. At Fairfax High School, he excelled in baseball, basketball and track and field, and earned many sports achievements. When Marc was only 10, his dear sister tragically passed away at the age of 19. Marc continues to honor her memory today. In 2001, Marc attended his sister’s 50th high school reunion to honor her. From childhood, Marc lived according to the “Essence of My Being: My 12 Inner-Core Values” and realized the important link that existed between human and dog in his family life, starting with knowing and loving his sister and family’s dog Frisky.
Marc continued his education in college and again distinguished himself as an outstanding athlete, in addition to being a strong individual who cared deeply for other creatures. In his Biology class, Marc was asked to dissect a live frog as part of his course requirements, which was the norm at that time. According to Marc: “I don’t have an affinity for frogs, but for me to take the life of an animal to pass a course is wrong. I would not do it.” At first Marc received flack, until he calmly responded that if he was forced to kill the frog, he would quit college first. His wishes were granted. Marc was allowed to continue with the class without dissecting the live frog.
Marc further distinguished himself in college when he worked as a part-time physical education coach for children in grammar school. At that time, boys and girls had to play in sports separately, as was the norm. There was a strong wish in which two sisters and also an autistic boy wanted very much to play with all the boys in the softball games. I believed that was totally appropriate, since I had been involved in the games very closely. Initially, there was resistance by the administration, as it was against the rules. However, when I explained why allowing them to play was important, I was allowed to change the program for all the children to play together regardless of their gender or disability, with me present at all times to oversee.
Why was it important for all the children to play together? So that they could, at this early age, learn teamwork, racial harmony and honest respect, in addition to the values of winning and losing in life. It worked out beautifully. (Note from Marc: “Some 14 years later, I was playing in a fast pitch softball league in Beverly Hills and the same two sisters happened to be present at a game, as they knew our pitcher. We talked and it warmed me to see what nice young ladies they turned out to be. They were so kind to express their gratitude for what I taught them. All of the above, I did without fanfare—just matter-of-factly standing by my values.”)
Marc’s inner-core values and spirit are exemplified on two significant occasions in his 20s, after he joined the workforce full time. Marc helped to save two lives at different times—a dog that was not his own, and an ex-girlfriend—each of whom were in separate car accidents and near death. In both cases, in order to care for them, Marc left his excellent position at work, jeopardizing his position and financial well-being for a long period of time. He knew by his presence he could help heal them. With his assistance, both recovered. Marc didn’t think twice about placing his future in peril in order to do this each time. Fortunately, each time his position at work was held for him, and when he returned to work he was catapulted to vice president of a large textile company within a year. Marc has saved the lives of numerous other dogs in peril during his life.
Marc has stated his entire life that he was blessed by God with his precious mother. Marc was able to help save his precious mother’s life on three occasions, in addition to taking care of her every day during the last five years of her life when she was in ill health. During this difficult time, both Marc and his ailing Mother cherished the pure joy provided by his beloved dog Tanya (1979-1995), who gave a great deal to both, and added a great deal of meaning to their lives.
Dogs have always been a significant part of Marc’s life. Marc enjoyed 16 beautiful years with his beloved dog Tanya, who he found wandering on the street when she was 2 months old. Since bringing Tanya into his life, Marc has organized his life and continues in all areas to have his precious “baby” in his presence most of each and every day. It was the same with his later dogs Shane and now Starr. From choosing to work from home to run his textile business, to taking trips, playing sports, seeing girlfriends (at the time) and his precious mother, Marc and his dogs have stayed together. Why? According to Marc, “Just their presence makes every moment of our lives project the pure joy and happiness we share together. They are God’s gift. PURE LOVE PURE TRUTH™. It is as natural to me as breathing. When I do leave my dog (also Shane and Starr) at any time in the comfort of my home for a short time and any time, I see and sense the surreal serenity in their being, knowing Marc will be back soon and that is fine by them.” Of note, both Tanya and Shane respectively brought out better qualities in Marc’s girlfriends (at the time).
In 1996, Marc brought a beautiful golden labrador-mix puppy into his life. He named her Shane after his favorite Western movie, with the values displayed in the movie. In 1999, when Shane was three, Marc was recommended by his local vet to take Shane to a specialty animal hospital for just one day to help bring down the frequency of her epileptic seizures. From the first day at the animal hospital until her release over two and a half months later, she was placed in various states of life-threatening conditions and tortured. It was later testified that the so-called “treatments” and different drugs performed on Shane were, in fact, counter-productive to her health. A few days after her release from the hospital, Shane took her last breath in Marc’s arms.
Before originally arriving at the hospital, Shane had been a perfectly healthy and happy dog except for periodic epileptic seizures that Marc could have lived with and dealt with for the rest of Shane’s life. Less than three months later, Shane was dead at the hands of atrocious medical malpractice. You can learn more about Shane’s Ordeal Perpetrated by Sheer Evil and the Landmark Superior Court Jury Trial by clicking on these links.
Following Shane’s torture and wrongful death, Marc left and permanently closed his textile business (where he had worked for 35 years) to pursue justice under the law for his beloved Shane. In 2004, following a seven-week Superior Court jury trial, for the first time in our nation’s history, a “special and unique value” had been assigned as financial compensation for the bond between human and animal (as Marc coined and called in the trial the “PURE LOVE between Shane and myself.”). The significance of this is that a monetary value was awarded for the irreplaceable loss of Shane above a piece of property (such as worth $10), rather than the typical value (i.e. actual cost to replace the animal). Obviously, veterinary malpractice was established during the trial and verdict. The financial award was $39,000.
When people ask Marc what made Shane so special, his response is simple: “Every second of her presence I felt the joy of our life together.”
In 2003 Marc brought another “baby” into his life as a puppy. As of 2007, she is a four-year-old, 35 lb. terrier mix. Her name is Starr. She is named in loving memory of one of Marc’s beloved sister, Mother and his favorite singers—Kay Starr. (The other was Doris Day—which is a story in itself.) Marc met Kay at her concert in 1986 with his Mother and told Kay about the pure pleasure that she gave his sister before she died in 1952. Kay was so overwhelmed with what he said, she hugged him and they both had tears in their eyes. This was a beautiful moment for Marc in honoring his PURE LOVE ones.
Marc lives in Sherman Oaks, CA, which has been his home for over 30 years. “My home inside has significance and meaning everywhere, which is displayed in a unique manner and encompasses my life and PURE LOVE ones. The effect of it all is like a joyful shrine to my being.”
Following the atrocities committed against his beloved dog Shane and the ensuing trial, Marc feels “Now my destiny is for the betterment of the dog kingdom.” In 2005, fueled by his love of all dogs, Marc created the Shane Marc Bluestone Foundation for the “Well-Being, Proper Health and Love of Dogs,” which is the foundation's slogan.
As Marc states: “Through the grace of the spirit of God, I have been very fortunate in my life in sports, socially and business. I value the most the Essence of My Being: My 12 Inner-Core Values. I am a private person and was content to keep what and who I am inside my being. But since the atrocities committed on my beloved dog Shane, I knew I would have to go forward to the public at large for one simple reason: to know who and what I am, supported by my actions and deeds; my messages and missions will resonate hopefully to millions like a “huge magnet” for the betterment of all dogs and the good, decent people. Life has its ups and downs with all of us, but what always should prevail is what is in our heart and soul. It truly links with the dog kingdom. If I don’t have the opportunity to convey, motivate and change with a movie, book, lectures or TV show, I will still continue my life. PURE LOVE PURE TRUTH™.”
Marc relishes every possible opportunity to convey his messages and missions through speaking engagements. Marc states, “America needs a wake up call” to get past the “political maze” and our “partially broken system,” which is part of his march for changes, wisdom and insight.