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Marshall Rutherford Nason
(1943- 2017)
Marshall was born to Mollie Priscilla Comstock and Thomas Marshall Rutherford Nason in Warrenton, Virginia where his father was stationed with the Army Signal Corps during the war. The family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and then to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1949. His parents divorced and he lived with his mother attending public schools and graduating from Highland High School in 1961. He attended Grinnell College, Iowa for two years, returning to the University of New Mexico and married Grinnell graduate Linda Rose Guthrie of Downers Grove, Illinois. He graduated B.A. with a major in English in 1966. The couple moved briefly to Seattle, Washington where he took graduate English courses at the University of Washington and then joined the United States Peace Corps for a two-year service in Micronesia. There he taught elementary school and helped establish the Truk Community Action Agency, serving as its program development officer. Marshall always considered the intense cross cultural nature of the Peace Corps in a non-western setting as a touchstone experience by which to measure other events in his life. Leaving the Peace Corps he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend graduate school at Emory University, receiving an M.A. in American Studies in 1976. He had divorced his first wife and then married Eva Ann Cary of Atlanta with whom he had two children, Shelley Anemone Nason and Bartram Cary Nason. He worked as a juvenile court probation officer and in an English as a Second Language program before being hired at Oglethorpe University in student affairs. During his nearly quarter century at Oglethorpe he directed the student center and student activities, advised student government, governed other student organizations and honorary societies, and coached cross country and track, receiving several awards for his efforts. He also served as the college’s international student advisor during all this time. He co-founded the Georgia Association of International Educators and served as the organization’s second chair. He left Oglethorpe as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. Throughout his life Marshall had an enthusiasm for endurance sports. He ran and competed in countless road races. He served as a race director and on the board of the Atlanta Track Club. He competed as a master’s swimmer and in various mountain bike races, as well as several triathlons well into his sixties. He was divorced and married to Kathleen Smith Duda of Atlanta in 2003. The couple has one child, Sienna Elizabeth Nason. After Oglethorpe, Marshall joined a non-profit organization, Helping Teens Succeed, whose goal was to help low income students attend and succeed in college. He subsequently taught English Composition and World Literature part time for four years at Georgia Perimeter College. Marshall is survived by his beloved wife Kathleen, a teacher in the Gwinnett County Schools, who was Teacher-of-the-Year at Archer High School in 2014, his three smart and talented children, and his sister Naomi Edwards of Auburn, New Hampshire. The family is being assisted by Georgia Cremation, Duluth, GA (678)584-0914. Messages of condolence may be shared by visiting www.GeorgiaCremation.com.
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Andy Altizer says
Marshall will be missed. Great sense of humor and even stronger sense of values and ethics.
Don Moore says
Deepest sympathy for the family. Marshall was a great guy and good friend.
Cleve Hill says
Marshall was a terrific fellow. During my two years as Student Body President at Oglethorpe, he provided excellent advice and demonstrated exemplary character. I respected him greatly and send my sincere condolences to his family.
Shannon Honeycutt-Smith says
So lovely to learn so much more about Marshall’s amazing life. He is going to be missed immensely. Marshall will always be my favorite Girl Scout Dad! He always wanted to be involved and help the troop out. I am also going to miss seeing him at the drama practices where we were always able to catch up on what was going on in each other’s lives. Our talks will be missed. Rest In Peace, my friend. See you on the flip side.
Andy Geeter says
My life is truly richer for having known and been able to call Marshall Nason my friend. He was always full of life and had a great sense of both humor and compassion.
Henry Broitman says
Saddened by this news. Marshall helped me in so many ways while at Oglethorpe. He will be missed.
Dani Stellin Benner says
So deeply saddened to hear the news of Marshall’s passing. He was a friend and mentor during my days at Oglethorpe, and will be missed by all who knew him. Our love and prayers to the family.
Elizabeth Kennedy says
Marshall Nason had so many roles in my life: colleague, mentor, friend, confidant, role model, avid supporter, and finally, as a beloved and wonderful brother-in-law. Though I am deeply saddened by his absence, I am more so happy to have had so much time with this man. I always joked with Marshall about making sure he contacts and visits me from the other side, and if it happens, I will be very welcoming of his company.
Amy Zickus Estes says
Marshall was one of the good guys. He’s one of the people whose smiling, cheerful face will always be part of my memories of Oglethorpe. My condolences to his family and friends, You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Juliana Anglada says
So very sorry for all ofof Marshall’s family, particularly Kathleen and Sienna. Thinking of you.
Ann Allinson says
Kathleen and Sienna, I am so sorry to hear about Marshall, but I know that he is no longer suffering. He was a wonderful dad and I know you and Sienna miss him so much. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
steve batterson says
I am sorry to have just learned of Marshall’s passing. For several years in the 80s and/or 90s we did workouts together on the Oglethorpe track. Marshall wes a little older and
a little faster than me. We were not real close, but you bond in a special way with the
challenging workouts we did. I liked and respected him. A really good guy.
Richard Register says
Marshall was my best friend through all of grade school in Albuquerque. Sounds like he grew into a very admirable and giving man. I don’t know why I just now thought of him, probably just thinking back through my life here in old age and remembering our long early friendship. Sorry I waited about four years too long to start thinking about what a good friend he once was. It would have been wonderful to share some meantime years with him. We made up space exploration stories together and wandered the desert appreciatively, enjoying “nature” together often, for those really important five or six years of our lives from about five to eleven years of age. So here’s just a message of appreciating Marshall to someone else who loved him, whoever you are! Wish I had not waited so damn long to try to find him again. His photo here on this site makes him look like the very intelligent and caring guy I once knew so well, even if then so very young.
If anyone reading this has a picture of him as a grade school or jr. high school student, please do send!
Richard Register, now of Santa Fe, New Mexico.