Donald James Marshall, born April 14, 1933, died peacefully on May 8, at home with his family, after living 93 active years and enduring a blessedly short period of decline due to congestive heart failure.

Don entered the world on the day of a surprise April snowstorm that led to a front-page Marlborough newspaper headline ("Snowplows Rush to Bigelow Street") heralding his at home birth to Frye Boot Co. employee Roger W. and nurse Ruth M. (Day) Marshall. As Don often recounted, he and his two sisters - Louise and Doris - grew up with an abundance of love but a dearth of indoor plumbing.

Don had an exceptional intellect, which led him to becoming a Geophysicist, attending MIT (B.S., 1954), Cal Tech (M.S., 1956) and MIT (PhD, 1958). He turned his PhD research on photo luminescence of minerals into his life's occupation and was recognized as a leading worldwide authority in his field. In the 1980's, Don founded a business (RELION) which he ran from his home until the age of 92. RELION manufactured and serviced specialized instruments used worldwide in geologic research and exploration, taking him to 28 different countries as he lectured and supported the equipment. He delighted in connecting with people from across the globe, frequently commenting on the diversity and connectedness of the human race.

Don met his wife Barbara Schofield Allen on a blind date in the fall of 1953; they married in October 1954, forming a 62-year partnership that lasted until her death in 2017.  After the birth of their son Allen in 1955 and some early career moves, Don and Barbara settled in Bedford in 1966. As a father, he inspired his son's interests in the outdoors, fishing, birding, trees, gardening, cribbage, bad puns, crossword puzzles, and the Boston Red Sox, (who he never forgave for trading Mookie Betts.)

Over his 60 years in Bedford, Don's passions led him to an active civic and church life; a lovingly tended garden and greenhouse; decades with Barbara raising and rescuing Bearded Collies; a habit of authoring epistles about issues big and small which he sought to have published in newspapers; and since 2020, his new-found identity as Great-Grandpa Don.  He was proud to be named Bedford Citizen of the Year in 2011, an award based on his service to Bedford, including his role in establishing curbside recycling and the founding of Bedford's Arbor Resources Committee (BARC), as well as his contributions to a myriad of local committees and causes.

Don had a fondness for Ogden Nash's poetry, and at age 90 he self- published a collection of his own rhyming stanzas. On May 6th, in his final spoken words to his great-grandchildren (quoting Nash) he imparted the following words of advice: "...if you are called by a panther, don't anther!"

Don is survived by his son Allen (Anne Bickford) of Bedford; grandchildren Nicholas Marshall (Raz Edwards) of NYC, Molly Marshall (Greg Freeburn) of Stow, MA, and Evan Marshall (Molly Kazin Marshall) of Marlborough, MA, and (to his delight) great grandchildren Louise, Malcolm, and Ada Freeburn, and Sylvie Marshall. He was pre-deceased by his wife Barbara and sister Doris Butler, and is survived by his sister Louise Hotz of Weymouth, sister-in-law Abigail Pereira of Rockville, MD and eleven nieces and nephews who loved and admired their Uncle Don.

Friends are invited to Don's Celebration of Life service, which will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, at First Parish Unitarian Bedford, 75 The Great Road, with a reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, Don's family suggests planting a tree or contributing to First Parish Unitarian Bedford, Massachusetts Audubon, or the Union of Concerned Scientists.