Marshall Booth passed away - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tymbrymi · #1 11-29-2007, 02:55 PM

http://www.legacy.com/PostGazette/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=98788905

This was posted to the R/E list (I am not a member... heard it through the OkieBenz mailing list, not sure who posted it)

Quote:

Marshall Booth, sometimes referred to as "Der Dieseling Doktor" passed
away on Monday. While he had said little about it, he had been
dealing with a melanoma for over a year. His formal field was medical
biology, and he had participated in experimental research in his
treatment.

Additional bad news is that his companion, Linda, lost a son on
Wednesday too. To the same demon, Big C. So she's been hit with a
double whammy this week, and our first thoughts have to be directed
toward her well-being after being hit this hard.

Somehow, it has fallen on me to be the one to eulogize Marshall in some
appropriate manner, and my first reaction to that assignment is "What,
me worry?" I am not at all sure that I have any wonderful words for
that task.

Marshall, in the end, was a rather private person, mostly known for
his participation in various technical forums. Few of us knew him in
person (I didn't), But was a very early member of this list, and when
the times of list crises came, was a fount of common sense, as well as
encouragement to move forward. So the fact that this list has
survived three months less than ten years now---Marshall had some
responsibility for that. But this list was not his sole venue. He
participated actively in several of the other mail lists and forums
that save us from having to try to be all things to all people.

There was NO MISTAKING Marshall's writing style. You HAD to recognize
his use of his platform teaching manner when he wrote. Even lower
case george sometimes finds his caps shift keys when it IS IMPORTANT
that you GET THE MESSAGE.

I think of Marshall as the Erwin Rommel of the infamous Oil Wars.
Mobil 1 forever! If it came out of the ground and purported to be a
lubricating or hydraulic oil, Marshall would be quick to inform you
that the so-labelled "synthetic" was vastly superior.

Then there is the "Marshall Plan" for wholesale replacement of Bosch
GBC fuses as preventive maintenance. He felt just as strongly about
3AG and 20MM side-clip fuses, blade-clip types, etc. and to him, to
question that?.... To him there WAS no question. JUST REPLACE them
periodically.

Those who know anything of Marshall's personal life know that lost a
wife and a son to an automobile accident something like 45 years ago.
He sometimes remarked on that, and how it had led him into serious
research of things automotive. If there is something literary to
include here, I lean toward Ernest Dowson's pithy little poem:

"They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate;
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.

"They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream."

Right now, I do not have information on any public wake or memorial
service, nor any suitable place to send contributions in his memory.
We have been asked to aid in disposal of his library, which we will
do when it is timely.

For the moment, let our thoughts go out to Linda.

R Leo · #2 11-29-2007, 03:28 PM

Godspeed Marshall. We'll miss you dearly.

Da Hawaiian · #3 11-29-2007, 03:32 PM

God Bless and keep Marshal and his son!!

Malama pono

Dakota

Hatterasguy · #4 11-29-2007, 04:20 PM

You will be sorely missed Marshall.

Stevo · #5 11-29-2007, 05:08 PM

What a guy, I have many of his informative posts tucked away for future use. I wonder how old he was.

H-townbenzoboy · #6 11-29-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevo

What a guy, I have many of his informative posts tucked away for future use. I wonder how old he was.

His MBCA profile states he was 72. If you'd like to sign a guestbook with your condolences to his family, you can find it here http://www.legacy.com/PostGazette/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=98788905

Jim B. · #7 11-29-2007, 05:22 PM

I remember him as far back as 1998 when the Stu Ritter/Richard Easley tech mail list was going full steam, when the internet was still pretty new.

Generous with information, and a legendary poster in terms of quality and number of posts.

"Marshall

--

August M. Booth, Jr. PhD
Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

'87 300TD, '87 190D 2.5, '84 190D 2.2, '84 190D 2.2, '85 190D 2.0, MBCA GW Section"

RIP

Brian Carlton · #8 11-29-2007, 06:22 PM

Wow, that's a shock.

Marshall will be sorely missed. His breadth of knowledge and experience on M/B diesels won't easily be replaced.

Rest in peace.

Palangi · #9 11-29-2007, 06:31 PM

Sorry to hear that. I wondered why he hadn't been heard from in a while.

Very knowledgeable guy. Very informative.

Thanks for letting us know.

Cervan · #10 11-29-2007, 07:36 PM

I talked to the guy over the internet quite a few times, he was allways helpfull and overall a fun guy to be around. may he rest in peace.

unkl300d · #11 11-29-2007, 08:49 PM

Sad. Nice guy. very helpful.

rivermasternc · #12 11-29-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tymbrymi

http://www.legacy.com/PostGazette/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=98788905

This was posted to the R/E list (I am not a member... heard it through the OkieBenz mailing list, not sure who posted it)

John:

The posting was authored by Hank Van Cleef.

-Scott

DslBnz · #13 11-29-2007, 10:37 PM

Yeah, I followed Marshall's postings since I was a freshman in high school (about 9 years ago) from the older lists.

His demonstrated knowledge of the 60x series diesels was second to none.

Definitely a shock...Marshall was like a Mercedes diesel god to me. I'm sure he's in a better place.

t walgamuth · #14 11-29-2007, 11:02 PM

Rest in peace Marshall. You are missed.

Tom W

bustedbenz · #15 11-29-2007, 11:06 PM

I listen to everybody. But since I started this I've had a group of three or four people that I always tended to regard as... definitive, when it came to these cars. Marshall was one of those at the head of that list... At least he was peacefully with his family - that's one thing to be grateful for no matter what.

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