Finding Deeper Meaning
Steve Marsh never expected that a free workout trial would lead to one of the most meaningful communities in his life. A longtime Dunwoody resident and self-described fitness enthusiast, Steve had passed by the Marcus JCC for years, unaware of what went on behind the gates. In 2016, after months of running past the campus each morning, he spotted a promotion in a local publication offering a free week of workouts at the MJCCA. He clipped the ad and decided to check it out.
From his first spin class, he was hooked. “From day one, it just felt right,” he says. As someone who commits fully once he joins something, Steve quickly became a regular in the fitness center, forming relationships with instructors and fellow participants. “When you go often enough, people start expecting you. You hold yourself accountable. That’s how it began.”
Steve is not Jewish, but he immediately felt welcomed at the Marcus JCC. “No one ever made me feel different. There’s a strong sense of inclusion and warmth at the MJCCA,” he said. Over time, his connection to Jewish traditions and the culture deepened. He attended Seders with friends, began to recognize the rhythms of the Jewish calendar, and shared experiences about having traveled to Israel. “I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the faith and the community. We’re all more alike than different.”
The Marcus JCC soon became more than just a place to work out. Steve found purpose and connection in his early morning classes. “There’s a core group of us who’ve been going to [these] classes for years. It’s more than a workout—it’s a community. First, people are strangers. Then they’re friends. Eventually, they’re family. You know when someone’s hurting. You check in. You show up. It’s a beautiful thing.”
The impact of the Marcus JCC expanded beyond Steve himself. In 2019, his daughter Audra joined so they could train together for a 200-mile bike ride. She had attempted it the year before but hadn’t finished. After months of spin classes, she completed the ride—and kept coming back. Now she’s a regular, often in the parking lot by 5:30 am, and has built her own network of close friends through the Marcus JCC.
Steve’s wife became involved as well, and now even his grandchildren enjoy the outdoor aquatic center during the summer. “When our family is in town, we go to the MJCCA—whether it’s for pickleball, spin, lifting, or just to be together. It’s part of our routine. It’s a place we share.”
That sense of belonging stretches even further. Steve works for an Argentinian company and often brings international colleagues to the Marcus JCC when they’re in town. “They’re welcomed just like I was. Now when they visit, they’re known by name. That says everything about this place.”
Over the years, Steve has served on multiple Marcus JCC committees and was recently invited to join the Board of Directors. “To be asked as a non-Jew speaks volumes about how inclusive this place is,” he said. “I’m proud to represent the JCC.”
As renovations continue and the Marcus JCC expands its reach, Steve is excited for what’s ahead. “There’s no place like it. It’s where we grow stronger—physically, mentally, and spiritually. And it’s become a part of who we are.”