It’s not the only measure of a man. But the respect of his sons says a lot about a man’s life.On the day after Father’s Day, the funeral of former Florida State president J. Stanley Marshall was highlighted by the loving memories of his three sons. It revealed a man more warm and lighthearted than his public image.”I felt lucky growing up,” David Marshall said. “I was the only one among my friends who considered his father his best friend.”More than 300 people filled Trinity United Methodist Church on Monday for the funeral of Marshall, who died June 8 at age 91.Marshall served as FSU president from 1969 to 1976, overseeing the tumultuous era of student protest. He went on to a long second act as a business owner, trustee of two universities (FSU and Bethune-Cookman), member of the Florida Board of Governors and founder of a conservative think tank.Marshall’s funeral drew a host of local, state and university officials. FSU interim president Garnett Stokes, former president Sandy D’Alemberte and baseball coach Mike Martin joined dozens of FSU alumni in attending. There were current and former legislators and Supreme Court justices, Tallahassee Mayor John Marks and State Attorney Willie Meggs.The service paid homage through song, prayer and scripture reading to Marshall’s strong religious faith. It also paid tribute to his affection for FSU, with the congregation singing, the “Hymn To The Garnet And Gold,” which is sung by FSU fans at the end of every football game.Former Florida Speaker of the House Allan Bense, who earned two degrees from FSU during Marshall’s presidency, delivered the main address. Bense is chairman of the FSU Trustees and chair of the James Madison Institute, the conservative think tank Marshall founded in 1987.Bense shared anecdotes of Marshall’s determination and equanimity as a leader. He said it was Marshall who taught him to allow “everyone to have their First Amendment rights” during debates in the legislature.”At the end of the day, what matters about anyone is, ‘Was he a good man?'” Bense said. “Stanley Marshall was a good man.”Yet it was the more personal stories about Marshall that resonated most.Tallahassee resident Bobbi Shapiro graduated from FSU in 1971. She remembered how Marshall held weekly student socials at the FSU president’s house, inviting “every faction” of students to eat, swim and talk about issues of the day.”We’d sit in the living room and talk about what was going on, like the unrest (of student protests) or something lighthearted,” said Shapiro, who attended three of the socials. “It brought everyone together. (Marshall provided) a very calming influence.”Marshall’s public image was of a restrained, serious man. He was a strong believer in law-and-order, who spent his FSU presidency trying to rein in student political demonstrations. He was an ardent conservative, with strong ideas about education, economics and politics. He even took his diversions seriously: Farming, tennis and long-distance bicycling. He took his family on a bike trip through Central Europe and frequently took 100-mile bike outings in the Big Bend.But, according to his sons, Marshall also could be adventurous, humorous, even impish.He met his second wife, Shirley, on a flight from Rome to Paris — where they fell in love walking the streets of Paris all night. They were married for 48 years, presiding over a clan of five children — three from his first marriage and two together — that produced 14 grandchildren.His oldest son, David, told of a father-and-son trip to New York to watch Broadway plays. Late at night, it began to snow and the teenaged David begged to go outside and walk in the snow. His father agreed.”Sometime, when the weather is rugged,” David Marshall suggested, “in honor of Stan Marshall, find someone you love and go for a walk.”His middle son, John, told stories of his father’s penchant for giving silly nicknames to every child and grandchild (Paisano, Jacques, Blondie, Bunky, Little Muscles, etc.). He told of how his father took the family to a black church — where Marshall accompanied the gospel songs on his harmonica.He told how Marshall created a love of music in his sons, by introducing them to his favorites: crooners Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett.”While all my classmates were listening to Bruce Springsteen and Barry Manilow,” John Marshall said, “I was the only student at Florida High who knew all the words to ‘Moon River’ and ‘Volare.'”His sons rounded out the picture of a man who grew up in the Great Depression, served as an Army medic in World War II and climbed to the top of the education and business worlds — because he had strong values and a deep love of family.”My father was an extraordinary man,” said Drew Marshall, Marshall’s youngest son. “He lived his life with humility and principles — not because someone was watching but because it was the right thing to do.”http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2014/06/16/former-fsu-president-marshall-remembered-warmly/10613219/
