Marcel was from Neuchâtel, and had a bottomless reservoir of jokes about his home canton. Married Theri Schaller from Zurich. He studied at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Neuchâtel, and then worked for the Post Office for two years. Studied at a lycée in France for a further 2 years. In 1950, however, he began working as a "moral rearmament permanent". After 2 years in Caux, he left for Africa for 6 years. In 1960, he left for Cyprus for 3 months to replace a sick colleague, and stayed there with his wife Théri for 34 years. He became a member of the Caux Foundation in 1986, and was its President from 1989 to 1999.