Tribute

October 19th, 1940 – October 20th, 2025

Michael King Marshall, devoted husband, father, uncle, grandfather, friend, and educator, died peacefully at home on October 20th, following his 85th birthday celebration and the epic Blue Jays’ World Series qualifying win against the Mariners. He is survived by his loving wife Anne of 60 years; his children Melanie (Pete), Tony (Chantalle), and David (Kirsten); his eight grandchildren, Wyatt, Dayton, Ana-Sofia, Dani, Indigo, Cypress, Jade, and Diego; his sister Dawn; his two nephews Chris (Carmen) and Tim (Reina), and his beloved cats, Hunter and Georgie.

Mike was born and raised in Montreal with his elder sister Dawn, and after completing his BSc at McGill, he left home and those he loved most, to “search through education and life experience, for his tomorrows”.

In 1961 while working as a fire spotter, he met Anne Smith working in a Banff camera shop. They exchanged letters for several years while Mike studied medicine in Edmonton. Realizing his family’s tradition of a career in medicine wasn’t for him, and missing Anne, he returned to the coast where they were married in 1965.

The late 60’s were “homesteading years”, hand building a log cabin north of Smithers BC. Anne and Mike were known as “that carefree, good-looking young couple” with the kayak strapped to roof of their convertible MGA. In 1970, a year after the birth of their daughter Melanie, they decided that life with a new baby would be easier with running water and relocated for work in Massett, BC. In 1971, while Mike worked as Vice-Principal of Elizabeth Fisher and Belmont Fisher Secondary Schools in Victoria, their son Tony was born. In 1974, after their son David was born, Mike moved the family to Michigan where he pursued his PhD.

In 1976, the family moved to Lillooet, where Mike was hired as the Secondary School Principal. The year following, a new district role brought Mike and family to Kelowna where they remained until the early 80’s. The sound of Mike’s typewriter and country music filled those evenings, as he continued to research and write his dissertation.

In 1982, after many moves and family trips piling into the camper, the Marshalls’ landed on Salt Spring Island where Mike became Superintendent of Schools. School District #64 emerged provincially as a “lighthouse district” influenced in large part, by Mike’s commitment to supporting and empowering innovation.

In 1996, Mike stepped down from his district role to pursue one of his greatest passions – working in the classroom again, becoming the Principal at Pender Islands School.

In 2000, Mike retired from his principalship and unexpectedly, the following summer, suffered a life-changing stroke.

Over the next 25 years, he moved through the seasonal rhythms of life with incredible grace, humour, kindness, patience, and gratitude. Family was everything to Mike, and his life shifted from a very public realm to a private one. When he wasn’t enjoying the Mexican sun, he was happiest with his cats and a beer in hand in his south-facing pumphouse; big double doors opened wide to St. Mary Lake, letting the warm sun pour in. This was his “thought cathedral” – a private, timeless sanctuary.

Mike’s advice to us all remains: “Go out there and make a difference. But in each thing you do, or say in making that difference, preview your action through the lens of Truthfulness, Fairness, Goodness, and Kindness. History records the accomplishments of many motivated, capable, and intelligent individuals who made a difference, but gives a special place to those who made that difference in an honest, fair and caring way. What the world needs… what our country needs, and what every really worthwhile enterprise needs, are leaders who understand and live by this code.”

A Celebration of Mike’s Life will be planned and communicated by the family at a future date.