JOHN MARKS, a professor emeritus of Near Eastern studies, died April 15 in Princeton. He was 85. Marks, a specialist in Near Eastern cultural and political history, served on the faculty from 1954 until 1993. He directed Near Eastern studies as a program for two years and chaired it as a department for three years. Marks was best known for his two survey courses, “The Stone Age to Alexander” and “Alexander to Muhammad.” He also served as acting dean of the Chapel in 1980.