John Marshall, Environmentalist, Activist and Founder of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation for the Everglades Dies
John Marshall, environmentalist, activist and founder of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation for the Everglades died March 28, 2016, after a long illness. He was 75 years old.
John Marshall founded the Florida Environmental Institute and the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation in 1998. The foundation was created to continue the work of his uncle Arthur R. Marshall, renowned environmentalist and namesake of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is only one of twelve refuges in the United States named after a person. John and wife Nancy, as co-founders of the organization, devoted themselves to fulfilling Arthur Marshall’s dream and were actively involved on a daily basis for 17 years as chairman and president respectively.
After his uncle passed, Marshall dedicated his life to the preservation and restoration of the Florida Everglades and its eco-system. He was responsible for planting thousands of trees at the refuge and other bio-sensitive areas, and delivering science-based education and public outreach programs to educate children throughout Palm Beach County to become stewards of the environment.
Marshall’s commitment to the environment included chairing the Environmental Action Committee for the South Florida Water Management District; he was a member of the Everglades Coalition, a spokesman for the Florida Environmental Institute and a vice president of the Friends of the Refuge.
Marshall was named 2001 “Conservationist of the Year” by the Audubon Society of the Everglades and the Florida Wildlife Federation. He was also the recipient of the 2003 “Conservationist of the Year Award” from the Flagler chapter of Daughters of American Revolution and in 2004, received the Environmental Education Award from the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals. Most recently, Marshall received a Commendation from the Everglades Foundation for his “Leadership and Service in Protecting America’s Everglades.” Other community involvement included serving on the board of trustees of the Commandery of The Palm Beaches and the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem and Knights Hospitaller.
A career military officer, John Marshall saw active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1963-1971, serving in Viet Nam where he received 19 air medals for 275 air combat missions. He served as a U.S. Marine Corp Reserve Officer from 1971-1993 and received a Meritorious Assignment to the Office of Secretary of Defense, Test & Evaluation in 1992 and 1993. He retired as Colonel in 1993 having accomplished many significant achievements and awards. He later served as a U.S. civil servant system engineer until his retirement in 1997.
Marshall was a passionate gator fan and graduated the University of Florida with a B.S. geology in 1963. He graduated Naval Flight School in Pensacola, FL in 1966 and Radar Intercept Officer School in Brunswick GA in 1967. He continued his studies at the Navy Top Gun Fighter Weapons School in Miramar CA, 1970 and was a NASA Fellow in Biological Applications in Remote Sensing from 1970-1972. He received a M.S. in system engineering from the University of West Florida in 1972.
Born in Miami, Florida, he is survived by his wife Nancy George Marshall, West Palm Beach; sister, Jeanne Anne Moore, Dana Point, CA and step brothers Randall Marshall, Orange City, FL and William Marshall, Dregs, Idaho.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1300 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the John & Nancy Marshall Everglades Education Fund, established at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.