Marshall Coleman, 1943-2015

Longtime Eaglebrook faculty member Marshall Coleman passed away on April 6, 2015. Marshall ended his career at Eaglebrook as the school's archivist. Watch some recordings of his wonderful assemblies about the history of Eaglebrook here. Please read his obituary below and feel free to leave a comment about Marshall on the website.

Marshall B. Coleman passed away quietly on 4/6/15 after a brave battle against a progressive respiratory illness. Marshall (72) was the only son of William Coleman and Donna Schuyler Beekman. Marshall grew up in New York City and graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1960. He spent much of his summers (1957-1977) at his beloved Adirondack Camp in Glenburnie, New York, first as a camper and later as a counselor in charge of Riflery. He also served as the camp’s office administrator. He graduated from Beloit College in Beloit Wisconsin in 1964 with a BA degree in mathematics and German. Shortly thereafter Marshall took summer courses at the University of Salzburg, Austria in 1967, at the University of Trier, Germany in 1974, as well as various classes at the University of Massachusetts becoming certified by the State of Massachusetts to teach mathematics at the secondary level. Ever curious he was a voracious reader.

Following Beloit Marshall took a position teaching mathematics at the Eaglebrook School in Deerfield MA. He brought both wit and precision to all his responsibilities as a dorm parent, teacher of mathematics and German and coach of soccer and skiing. Hardly immune to humorous adventures in the dorm, he was indefatigable in helping all students regardless of their ability and organization. He could advance those most competent as well as relentlessly pursue those who had yet to acquire a firm foundation or appreciation for structure. Marshall also managed with characteristic precision the school’s rifle program teaching respect for safety as well as accuracy. When Eaglebrook renovated the rifle range in 2007 it was appropriately dedicated as the Marshall B. Coleman Rifle Range.
 
In 2003 Marshall retired as full time teacher and joined Eaglebrook’s Alumni and Development Office as a researcher and most importantly the school’s Archivist. His dedication to order and organization as well as his deep curiosity resulted in the cataloguing of a seemingly overabundance of papers, school publications, and photographs ensuring the school’s history would not be forgotten. Many of the “lost” alumni were brought back into the fold of the Eaglebrook family as Marshall contacted them and followed and recorded their educational and career trajectories. An avid traveler, Marshall enjoyed his trips to Mexico in the winter and France in the summers.

As Marshall’s health declined over the past year a multitude of both current faculty members and local friends rallied to support and assist him enabling him to continue his vital work ensuring Eaglebrook’s history was recorded and secure. He was beloved by all both for his wit and curiosity as well as his determination to do his job at the highest level of integrity and organization.

In addition to his more than forty years of devoted service to Eaglebrook School, Marshall was a committed, long term communicant of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Greenfield, MA where he took particular joy in being involved with the choir. His dry wit and sense of humor will be missed by those who knew him well. In lieu of flowers, please make gifts in honor of Marshall to support a day student scholarship at Eaglebrook School and/or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Greenfield.

A service celebrating his life will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Greenfield at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18th.
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  • Harriet Paine
    So sad to hear this news...remembering Marshall and his beloved, Thor~! Look for Marshall for though he is not lighter than your thoughts, you will recognize the effervescence of his heart, where ll trails beckon~!
  • Charlie Hollerith
    Eaglebrook has lost a great teacher and mentor. I will always remember his dry wit and sense of humor at meals. A kind man who was committed to the success of every student.
  • Claude Offenbacher
    I was distressed to learn of Marshall's death. Being a continent away (in Oregon), I regrettably won't be able to attend his Memorial Service. He was a close friend during my tenure (1962-67) as an Eaglebrook French teacher, Director of Admissions, lower school coach and dorm master of Keith House, where Marshall served so well as a relief master. He was a wise, kind, very even-tempered companion who regularly kept me up on Eaglebrook doings, and whom I always looked forward to seeing on my return visits. In fact, other than the now "senior" Chases, he was the only staff member remaining from those halcyon Eaglebook '60s. I will truly miss him.
  • Shawn Kelly
    I first met Marshall when I came to teach at Eaglebrook in 1998. I had limited interactions with him as he was in the math department and I taught science. In 2003 he went to work in the Alumni and Development Office and I saw even less of him. It wasn’t until I became the Director of Development in 2006 that I really got to know him. I remember coming in one morning and there he was sitting at his desk perched on a small bit of real estate next to the paper shredder. He was the consummate professional who was always kind, always pleasant and always willing to engage in a short session of chatting before he had to “get back to his calls.” He was the most meticulous and efficient man I’ve ever known and yet still had a childlike energy about him. His desk was the opposite of mine, tidy and ship-shape. I was tempted on many occasions to move his phone slightly to see if he would notice-I never did because I already knew the answer-he would. Marshall was a character and during my travels so many alumni asked if he still worked at the school, then they would tell a story usually involving an impersonation of his voice and mannerisms. These stories were told with love and respect. Finally, Marshall had a deep love of travel and planned his adventures like the Normandy invasion. When his vacation time arrived, he would disappear for a while and then return with a detailed accounting of what he had done on his journey. Perhaps some day Marshall will give us all a report of his most recent adventure. God speed Marshall Coleman. The world is a little less interesting today.
  • Jon Arnold
    I only worked at EBS and with Marshall for two years (1978-80) and recall his humor and "absent minded professorship" the most. One story involves Bob Billelo - we were coaching a soccer game and Marshall was the referee. After a goal, both teams reassembled at the midfield for the kickoff. Marshall carefully counted players, checked with both goalies to see if they were ready and blew the whistle to start play. Nobody moved. A befuddled Marshall looked to the center player who was raising his hand to say "But sir, there's no ball..." Indeed, he'd forgotten to place the ball at the center spot for the kickoff. Billelo and I absolutely lost it, but Marshall went on as if nothing was amiss at all...
  • Michael Beautyman
    Marshall was a dedicated teacher who gave so much of his life to Eaglebrook. Kindness is the word that comes to mind. MJB, West Palm Beach, FL
  • Bryan Callahan
    Marshall was one of the most generous, supportive, and humble people I have ever met. He was my home night teacher for three years at Eaglebrook, and he was a great mentor to me. Marshall was not one of the popular teachers at the school. He didn't attract a crowd of admirers or try to win popularity contests. but he was an incredibly decent and empathetic human being. He told me once that his parents came to him one night, when he was very young, and said, "Marshall, we have decided to divorce. We want to know which one of us you want to live with." I can't begin to imagine the pain and horror that that situation caused him. but I know that Marshall used it to provide support and empathy to many Eaglebrook students who faced similar pain and loss. I met Marshall two years after my dad passed away, and I can reflect now on the sincere compassion and generosity of spirit that he extended to me. I am a better person because he was a part of my life, and I wish that I had taken the chance to tell him so in these words. I meant to. Rest in peace, good soul.
  • Herbert Ogden
    I got to know Marshall when I spent January 1969 on the hill student teaching, seven years after graduating from Eaglebrook. I think I was supposed to teach only history, but Marshall let me teach German, too, once he found out I was fluent. He didn't portray teaching as unadulterated bliss, but he did show it could be a lot of fun if one had a sense of humor. I thank him for helping launch me in my first career, as a German teacher, back when we were both in our 20s. I was glad to see him at Reunion recently and will miss him.
  • Andy Wiessner
    Knew Marshall when I was a young camper at Adirondack Camp, but left Eaglebrook before he began there. What a wonderful man. Andy Wiessner Snowmass, Colorado
  • Patrick Moran
    I still look for submarines under my bed every morning even though I don't have too.
  • john rock
    great teacher
  • patrick mahoney
    Ah, Marshall, we will miss you. Thank you for the shooting lessons!
  • Dave Hobbing
    My prayers go out to any and all friends and family of Marshall. He was my dorm master along with Bill and Lil Van Order in the 70's.He was an excellent teacher and a dry-witted mentor to me at EBS.
  • Bill Albert
    A really wonderful guy. I never had Marshall as a teacher, but he was my advisor during my Sixth Form year in Macy, and I got to know him pretty well. He was very caring, but also possessed a great sense of dry, sardonic humor. I remember his rather fearsome-looking German Shepherd, Thor, who had the odd habit of chewing on rocks. I was fortunate enough to communicate with Marshall occasionally by e-mail in the past few years, which I greatly enjoyed. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Ave atque vale. Bill Albert '74
  • Chima Ogbuokiri
    Mr. Coleman changed my life. I know that may sound like a bit of hyperbole, but it is true. Prior to coming to EBS, and through my first semester, I did well at Math, but never embraced it. I never had that feeling of "breaking through," because I was never pushed. I remember spending two evenings working with Mr. Coleman in his apartment for at least an hour each time working through some problems that I would have normally overlooked as unnecessary. He helped me push myself and recognize that importance of reaching for things that were not already within my grasp. Life has never come easy, but those hours spent in Mr. Coleman's apartment have made life far more worthwhile!
  • Rod Wagner
    Marshall's quick wit and dry sense of humor will not be forgotten. And as a student it was a novelty that we were instructed to adress him by his FIRST name- so cool. I never came close to having him as a math teacher (he taught calculus to 7th graders!) but he was a master instructor on the rifle range. Probably one of the best Saturday Morning Activities ever! Godspeed, Marshall.
  • John Ahrens
    Peace & Prayers go out to Family, friends and the entire Eaglebrook community. Some of my fondest memories of Marshall involve his time as my dorm parent of Macy. I believe Wednesday night was time to eat with our dorm parents. Marshall was famous for hamburger shaped like a hot dog stuffed with cheese. Great comfort food. Mr Colman is missed and a vital part of Eaglebrooks history. RIP Marshall
  • Alex Murray
    I am deeply saddened to read this. Marshall was very good to me, and a very kind hearted man. He was a great guy. I remeber when it was tiem to brush our teeth before lights out, he would say, "Come on everybody, it;s fang time...lol. What a character. He will be missed. Alex Murray 95
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