William (Bill) Walter Marshall
August 23, 1935 to June 28, 2023
Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of William (Bill) Walter Marshall at home, surrounded by loved ones, on June 28, 2023. Devoted son, cherished brother, beautiful husband, wonderful father and beloved grandfather, great grandfather and uncle, a friend to many, it is impossible to describe the hole in our hearts left by his departure from this life.
Born in St John’s, Newfoundland to Gertrude Bolt and Walter Marshall on August 23, 1935, he was educated at Bishop Feild College, Memorial University, the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University. He was called to the Newfoundland bar in 1958, practiced law in St John’s and later went on to form a successful law practice, Marshall, White, Ottenheimer & Green.
On May 14, 1960, he married the love of his life, Joan Marshall (Rooney). Their marriage of 64 years was steadfast and a beautiful example of true partnership to their three children.
His life was full. In 1968, he was elected Eastern vice president of the Progressive Conservative Party and was appointed policy chairman, president of the party association and interim leader in 1969. He represented St John’s East in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1970 to 1986, where he served as president of the executive council and as the minister responsible for offshore negotiation with Ottawa, which culminated in the Atlantic Accord. He was the last living member of the first progressive conservative cabinet since confederation. He believed that there was no greater honour than serving the people of the province that he loved so deeply.
In 1986, he was named to the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland, where he served until 2003. During that time he learned to speak French, immersing himself at every opportunity. When he was not working, he could be seen cycling around Windsor Lake. Retirement was not a word in his vocabulary and he remained busy for many years after he left the Court.
He served as Chancellor for the Anglican Diocese for four decades. In recognition of his service, William received an honorary doctorate degree from Queen’s college in 2015. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Memorial University in October 2016.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, William achieved much and touched so many in his 87 years of life. His greatest pride, however, was his family. The love William had for his Wife, children and grandchildren is beyond words. His spirit, adoring smile, and compassion will be greatly missed by all.
Leaving to mourn his wife of 64 years, Joan Marshall, son Timothy (April), daughter Valerie, daughter Beth, his much loved grandchildren Jonathan, Andrew, Leanna, Beth, Kate and Getiso, great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Carol, Nancy, and Jeanette, brothers-in law Edsel and Gunar, nieces and nephews and many many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, by his brother, John and sister, Anthea. The family would like to say a special thank you to Robert Marshall and Calvin Leyte for their kindness and help to our family.
Bill’s compassion, brilliance and sharp wit will be missed by many. Forever loved. Until we meet again.
Visitation will be held at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road on Sunday July 2 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm; and Monday July 3 from 2-7 pm.
A celebration of his incredible life will be held at the Anglican Church of the Good Samaritan, 10 St. Clare Avenue, on Tuesday, July 4 at 11 am.
For those who wish in his memory, donations may be made to the Anglican Church of the Good Samaritan.
Schedule
Visitations
2-4 p.m. on July 2, 2023
7-9 p.m. on July 2, 2023
2-7 p.m. on July 3, 2023
Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
View on Map
funeral
11:00am, Tuesday July 4th
Anglican Church of the Good Samaritan
10 St. Clare Avenue
Dear Mrs. Marshall,
I have served you and your wonderful husband at Jungle Jims nearly every week. Each time you come in you brighten not only my day, but the entire staff’s as well. Mr. Marshall never failed to make us smile and laugh with his silly character and witty jokes. His kindness and generosity will never be forgotten among your Jungle family. Mrs. Marshall, you are in our thoughts and have a permanent home in our hearts.
Love, Amber & your friends at Jungle Jims.
Valerie & Family, Sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. I know the loss & it is real. Cherish your memories. Lynne & Charlie Henley
Valerie & Family
So sorry to hear of your father’s passing. My condolences to you and your family.
Roxanne Hancock
(Melendy)
Beth and Family, so sorry to hear of passing of your Dad. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Joan and your family. Sincere sympathy to you all. We’ve got many fond memories of Bill and the various campaigns over the years. The many tributes show the major contributions he’s made to our province.
Cherish your great memories.
Mrs Marshall, Valerie and family,
Jacqueline and I were very saddened to hear the news of Bill’s passing. We remember him as a very kind, witty and brilliant man. Sending our most sincere condolences,
Fred and Jacqueline Ottenheimer
Valerie and family
So sorry to hear of the passing of your father Valerie. Mine and Patricia’s sincere condolences.
Peter Furlong
Dear Valerie.
So very sad to hear of your father’s passing. The loss of a beloved one is painful beyond words, especially the loss of a parent. Our fathers are our protectors, our guide through our life journey and our greatest fan. As reflected in the tribute, Valerie you had an exceptional and exemplary dad; his teachings will never leave you. May fond memories of your father bring you comfort and keep him forever near. I believe that our loved ones never leave us, we carry them with us always in our hearts. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. R.I.P. Mr. Marshall.
Marina Mercer
A very respected gentleman, a life well lived. He certainly had a positive impact on my life.
the warmth and kindness he showed me will forever ne remembered. .
Dear Joan, Valerie and the Marshall family,
We were saddened to learn of the passing of your dear husband and father.
Bill will be missed by many.
I worked with Bill for many years, and also with Valerie.
Bill was a very kind and thoughtful boss and showed compassion to his employees.
Please accept our deepest sympathy during this difficult time in your lives.
Rest in peace my friend.
Sincerely,
Ruth Kenny, Paul Kenny, Jo Ann (Kenny) Stanley
Joan, Valerie and the Marshall Family.
Shocked and saddened to hear of Bill’s sudden passing.
It has been my privelege to call this superb Christian gentleman a very sincere friend.
His love for and contribution to this province is above and beyond from many respects.. political, law , justice and his church.
He was a great mentor and storehouse of so much knowlwdge.
His attendance at Friday’s Kitchen Cabinet in the years past will be greatly missed
Rest in Peace my friend
Ray and joyce ANDREWS
Valerie and family,
Sending my deepest sympathies to you and your family on your father’s passing. I worked with your dad at the Court of Appeal from 1997 until he retired in 2003.. I have so many wonderful memories. He was a great man to work with. He brought many smiles to our faces during our work days. Thinking of you all at this difficult time.
Joan, Val and family, my deepest sympathies to you on Bill’s passing. I have fond memories of meeting him in the late 60’s when I worked at the Royal Trust building where Bill practiced law. In later years as a Rotarian I would visit Bill at home to deliver his “gourmet fish”at Christmas time., a Rotary project which he supported generously. The invite into his study for a long chat was always a joy. He was a titan in all his endeavours exhibiting the gold standard in ethics and honesty. He loved his province dearly and served her with distinction. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
Kevin
Tom and I were so saddened to hear of the passing of Justice Marshall. He and Mrs Marshall were close family friends and as children, we loved Mr. Marshall’s marvellous sense of humour and kind way. We extend our deepest sympathies to Mrs Marshall and Tim, Valerie, Beth and the grandchildren.
Tom Fraize and Noreen Greene Fraize
Dear Valerie, Mrs. Marshall and Family,
We were so sorry to hear of your Father’s passing.. Please accept our sincere condolences. We were honored to meet your Father when you were called to the Bench. From reading his obituary we can certainly feel your enormous loss but may you find comfort in the many happy memories you all shared with him. May your Mother be comforted in having her family in her life at this difficult time. God Bless you all and may your Father rest in peace and may his wonderful life bring peace to all who knew him.
Sending you love and sympathy at this sad time,
Jean (Gibbons) and family
The Squires Family
St. Mary’s
Valerie, Beth, Kate and the Marshall Family,
Condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father and grandfather. A man who made a significant contribution to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador throughout his lifetime. His greatest pride was his family and I saw first hand how proud he was of both Beth and Kate through the variety of concerts and activities that he attended while you were both at Rennie’s River Elementary School. Wishing you peace and sending love to you all during this difficult time.
Colleen Galgay
Joan and family, sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. Our province has lost a true statesman, a man of compassion and a friend of many whom he represented with great commitment in the political and judicial professions. It was my honour to have served with Mr. Marshall in the Peckford administration as the MHA for the Carbonear District. He was a Great Mentor! After politics we kept in contact as Bill and Joan would come to Fong’s Motel and Restaurant in Carbonear to relax and spend weekends, and he always called me to get together, have a chat many times about politics.
To all the family we share your sorrow at this difficult time and send our deepest condolences.
Milton and Joan Peach
My condolences to Joan and the Marshall family. I remember Bill as a house guest of my parents Jane and John, back in the era when doing you job as a n opposition member in the House could get you punched in the face.. Despite such perils, Bill persevered and we are all the better for it.. Bill had the satisfaction of later attaining and using office to implement reforms from which we still benefit. In politics, law, Church and family Bill left a lasting legacy..
This was a man who in his life was the epitome of a great legal mind, a distinguished and honest public servant and a loyal friend and mentor to many of us. I first met him in 1969 and was privileged to assist him by working on his campaign in the 1970 St. John’s East by-election. It was the beginning of an auspicious career whereby this province greatly benefitted by his contributions.
Bill Marshall’s name will always be associated with the real meaning of a honest & competent politician who served our province with distinction.
Joan & family – our sympathy and prayers on the passing of your spouse and father, we will all miss him.
To Joan and the Marshall family
Nora and I offer our Sincere Condolences.
I worked closely with Bill when he was President (Minister) of the Executive Council and I was Clerk (Deputy Minister). In many ways he was a “behind the scenes” person but extremely influential and effective. We enjoyed a respectful professional working relationship followed by very warm personal greetings whenever we met afterwards. May he rest in Peace.
Dear Joan .
To you and to your family , my sincere sympathy .
It is so very difficult to say good bye to a loving husband and Dad . Many family members and friends I’m sure., share your sorrow and as I, thinking of you at this most difficult time..
Take care,
Gloria (Stanley) Stewart
To the family of Bill Marshall,
Over the 50 + years that I have know Bill in the capacity of a lawyer who did the legal work for our accounting firm and many clients, to the years that I spent volunteering on the campaign trail, and followed his work as an MHA and in the courts I always admired the decent, kind, generous, outstanding gentleman he was. His contribution to our province and people was unmatched by anyone else I know.
Rest in peace Bill and sincere condolence to all .
Sincerely, Anna Gough Power
My sincere condolences to the family of Bill Marshall on the passing of an outstanding public servant who served the province with great distinction. He was known for his high ethical standards and for his efforts to promote the merit principle in staffing the public service and in the award of public tenders. Under the leadership of Premier Brian Peckford Bill Marshall negotiated the 1985 Atlantic Accord which gave the province joint management over the offshore oil and gas industry along with the right to receive the same revenues as if the resource were located on land. It was my privilege to work with him and to know him as a friend. While he was known for his strong commitment to his family, his Christian faith, and his loyalty to his province, he will also be fondly remembered for his wit and his humour.
Joan and family\
Much saddened by the news of Bill’s passing. A great loss to the family but shared by those of us who had the prevelege of knowing him.. He was a true statesman. We extend our deepest sympathy to you at this time.
Dorothy and Bob MacLeod
To Beth, Mrs Marshall, Val and Tim, my sincere condolences. Mr Marshall was such a blindingly smart, funny, caring and kind man, interested in the world.
Even in the busiest years of his career, I don’t ever remember coming over to play with Beth (a long, long time ago) that Mr Marshall didn’t pause his work to ask our news from the world of children. He was Deputy Premier at the time, but delighted in being Beth’s dad. As teenagers, Mr Marshall would find us slouching in the family room and ask our opinions of current events. He played the devil’s advocate for the fun of baiting the easily goaded, but also to challenge our reasoning and get us thinking. When we were in university in Montreal, Mr Marshall visited on a cold, slushy winter evening. He brought Beth, her housemates, Beth’s future husband Bruce and me out for dinner. We all took the bus together and Mr Marshall hammed it up, as if this was a novelty. The entire evening was framed by his happiness to be with Beth and her friends: ‘Now children,’ Mr Marshall said as the waitress passed out menus (We were all in our early twenties.). ‘We will ALL be having dessert!’. Years later, when Beth and Bruce married, at the reception Mr Marshall had a grin like a Cheshire cat. When I asked why he was so happy, he teasingly answered, less-than-truthfully, about getting rid of Beth, but then with a great conspiratorial admission, said he was delighted to keep Beth and get Bruce as part of the contract.
May he rest well, as he justly deserves.
Joan – Valerie and extended family of WWM
I met Bill as a 3 rd year Commerce student in 1967
– he was teaching a Law course @ MUN.
After I finished Law School and came home we became friends which lasted til a few days ago .
Much has been written about his career and contributions to our Province which
were enormous and consequential.
To me he was a person of good nature – possessed of an understated and kind disposition which went well with his sense of humour .
Bill Marshall in his day and generation made life better for his fellow citizens and for his native land of which he was so proud .
I was very happy to have been his friend.
He is now at rest and may that rest be in peace.
Sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing.
Godspeed WWM .
Sorry to hear the news about Bill for he was a real gentleman. May you have comfort in knowing that you have family and friends who share your sorrow.
My heartfelt condolences to Tim, Valerie, Beth and all your loved ones on the loss of your dad and grandfather. There are so many childhood memories from growing up together on the Crescent and though I was unaware of his Bill’s vast contributions in political life until my own entry, I marvelled at your dads cycling love which he and my mom shared. He was a good man who always made time for hellos. Sending you much love and peace at this sad time.
Newfoundland and Labrador has lost one of its giants.
He was a giant in the Province’s Christian Church .
He was a giant in the Province’s Modern Conservative Movement .
He was a giant in Provincial Public Policy —-believing in a strong public service and the author of the Province’s Public Tendering Act.
And he was a giant because he was key to the realization of ‘The Atlantic Accord.’
Add to that his distinguished career as a Jurist and being a true patriot and it is truly valid to say we have witnessed ‘greatness.’
To Joan and The family we express our condolences —-
Brian And Carol Peckford
Joan and family,
A great man has passed. Sincere condolences.
Mrs. Marshall, Tim, Valerie and Beth.
I am not sure what to say, so I will just say this.
Your Dad will be very much missed. He and my Father were the best of friends for may years and even though they must have had discussions were they disagreed. They did very much and dearly respect each other. After all, how could you be involved in politics and not have a discussion here and there.
Any way, take care and hold each other. You are all in my thoughts. Take care.
Chris Wilton
Very sad to hear of this news. I remember Bill very much on his visit’s to my father ( Harold Collins and my mother Joan) over the years.. He was such a constant voice and pleasant person to be around. May he rest in peace. A great man, who live a great life.. God Bless you.. Derek
My condolences to the family. We met while I worked at Bill’s Cycle Shop, there were always interesting and entertaining conversations at the shop. It was a pleasure to know Bill Marshall, a view shared by many, I am sure.
All the best….
Joan and family
We were so very sorry to hear of Bill’s passing.. He was a gentleman, a scholar and a very proud Newfoundlander. We have lost one of the best. Please accept our deepest sympathy
marlo and Ev
To Joan, Tim, Valerie and Beth, our sincere condolences on hearing of Bill’s passing. He was an accomplished man in so many fields of endeavour. May he rest in peace.
Valerie and members of the Marshall family,
Please accept our condolences on the passing of your Dad. I was fortunate to meet him a few times and always enjoyed my brief chats with him. He had a true interest in politics in our province that continued long after he left office.
Cherish your memories and know that he was seen as a gentleman, a scholar and a man of compassion.
Much like his namesake, the First Earl of Pembroke, Bill Marshall was great man. One of the true “adults in the room” advisors, ministers, legal counsel who in all his various roles served with intelligence, discipline and distinction.
NL Tories who knew him (and that should be all of us) remember that he was that rarer breed who never needed to make a conversion to the blue. Described by many of the best as a “tory’s tory.” He was one of the best ministers of the crown in the Moores and Peckford eras. A voice of reason and professionalism. In my political activism, I would count Bill as among my favourite political figures and someone who has been an inspiration to me.
I was working an ex-officio ballot box at the 2014 PC Leadership convention when I had the honour of handing Bill his ballot. That was the last time we spoke in person, though we did speak by telephone once or twice since then.
A key negotiator and author of our Atlantic Accord, but also a great Justice on the NL Court of Appeal. His wisdom was shining through when he took on judicial activism in a decision circa 2002.
To all those who aspire to public life and activism, take a moment to look to a statesman like Bill Marshall and learn a lesson or two. I believe I’ve learned a lot from Bill, for that and for his proud service to Newfoundland and Labrador, we are grateful and proud.
Joan and family,so sorry to hear of Bill,s passing.I. Remember you both from my younger days an how kind he was to me such a gentle smile. Heather LeShana
Condolences to all family and friends-(of which there are many) on Bills’passing-;’-Being in Real Estate sales since early 1960 to 2022;–I’ve had many many dealings with Bill-Always had a smile-“And whats’ on the go today Jim,” Type,-Great to work with,Last time we met was at Belbins Quidi Vidi rd,about 2 years ago,He saying JIm we still still on the go;? So sorry to read his Obit;- GOD BLESS–Our thoughts and Prayers at this sad time–Jim/Wife Nelia Campbell St. John’s, NFLD.
we are so sorry to hear of bill’s passing. as a young lawyer, i connected to bill both as a lawyer and when he served in government. he was kind enough to provide me with guidance and support as i ventured into my own practice and he was always available to encourage my endeavors. he was always active and loved to see him bike to and from, when biking was not considered a safe recreation.
i have fond memories of him and will carry them through my life.
to his wife and family ,especially valerie, the only family member with whom i had any interaction with in practice, i and my wife barbara send our heart sympathies,
denis and barbara barry
Valerie and family, please accept my condolences on the passing of your father. He was a true gentleman, and I was fortunate to have practiced law at a firm where he had set such a high standard for professionalism.
A wonderful person in so many ways. He will be missed by many. He was a talented scholar and believed in the magic of this Province and its people. He gave so much.
Val, I wish my most sincere condolences to you and your family.
My condolences to the Marshall family upon the loss of Justice Marshall. I considered him to be a compassionate and committed gentleman. His judgments showed a deep passion for the law and those affected by his decisions.
My deepest sympathy to the Marshall family.
Beth and Gatiso, I am so sorry for your loss. My father would always say “I saw Bill Marshall on the bike today”. Dad thought very highly of him. I’m thinking of you.
Valerie and Family
Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your father. I was fortunate to have met him on a few occasions and found him to be a very kind and lovely man. His career achievements are notable and I know you must be so very proud of him. Thinking of you and your whole family at this sad time.
Tim, we are so sorry to hear of your father’s passing. Our sincere condolences to you and all your family. RIP Mr. Marshall.
Valerie and Family
So very sorry to hear of your father’s passing. His accomplishments were many and he will be remembered fondly. Nothing can take away the pain we feel with a loss of someone so close and dear to our hearts, but I know you will cherish all of the beautiful memories and hold on to them for a lifetime.
Kim