William “Mike” Marshall

William Michael “Mike”

Marshall, age 67, passed away

February 6, 2010 peacefully at home

in Costa Mesa with family and

friends at his bedside. His son Hugh

described it this way, “As the rain

clouds parted, opening up a beautiful,

blue sky, revealing a colorful rainbow,

still droplets of rain from the heavens,

surrounded by a steady stream of

great friends wishing to say Goodbye,

Mike took off for the Perfect Left.

Through the spray he left the lineup

and caught that rainbow to ride forever. It was a wonderfully,

emotional day spent with his extended surf family reminiscing

about how it was to grow up in Newport.”

Preceded in death by his parents, Cloyd and Dorothy

Marshall, Mike is survived by his wife of 42 years, Sharon, son

Hugh (Lori), daughter Jennifer (Claire), sister Nancy Waterman,

two grandchildren Georgia Marshall and Simone Marshall-

Chafee.

Acquiring skills as a craftsman and surfboard shaper from Joe

Quigg, Mike was steeped in the sur7ng world early on. A graduate

from Newport Harbor High School he went on to get a teaching

credential and Master’s degree at Long Beach State and teach shop

and eventually history at Nicholas Jr. High School in Fullerton”

for more than 30 years. Along the way he and his wife created

Blackie’s Classics Longboard Association in Newport Beach

which will celebrate it’s 25th anniversary this year. Together they

became Founding Partners of the Sur7ng Heritage Foundation

in San Clemente where he was the Chairman of the Education

Committee and lead docent for the foundation. Retired from

teaching in 2005, he continued his love of sur7 ng.

“Redman” and “Coach” as he was known took pride in what

he did and passed it on to others. He touched so many lives, all

the while being humble, modest, and unpretentious. He took to

heart one of his favorite sayings “the youth of America are in my

hands” passing along his skills as a shaper to the next generation,

talking surf history at the Sur7ng Heritage Foundation, having an

impact on young 7 lmmakers, artists and musicians.

In addition to sur7ng, Mike’s life interests were endless:

hot rod and car culture, traveling, hiking the Sierras, tinkering

in his shop, nurturing his tropical garden PARADISE, watching

Georgia as she excels in swimming and so many other things.

Private family services will be held next week and a paddle

out at Blackie’s will take place in the future.

In lieu of ?owers, the family suggests that you make a

donation payable to the William “Mike” Marshall Memorial

Fund at SchoolsFirst PO Box 11547 Santa Ana, CA 92711 or the

Sur7ng Heritage Foundation 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente,

CA 92672