Dr. Marvin Narz, an associate professor in the Michael E. Stephens College of Business at the University Montevallo since 1978, died Friday, July 24 of complications from open-heart surgery.

The funeral service for Narz is Wednesday, July 29 at the Church of Brook Highland in Birmingham, 7160 Cahaba Valley Road.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Narz received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Barnard M. Baruch College in New York. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor of Law degree from Brooklyn Law School and a master’s degree in law from the University of Alabama.

When students asked about his decision to move from New York to Alabama, Narz had a witty answer at the ready.

“My reply was that I was in the Federal Witness Protection Program, and no one would think of looking for me in Alabama,” he said in an interview for the university’s business magazine. “Today the most frequent question is, ‘How many absences do I have left?’”

Kidding aside, Narz also spoke of his love for teaching.

“I enjoy imparting my knowledge to my students that I know will help them in the world of business,” he said. “I feel I am giving back to society what I previously received from my teachers.”

Narz resided in North Shelby with his wife.