Spinks Marsh

Spinks Hamilton Marsh, age 94, of Minneapolis, MN passed away on October 20, 2019.  Preceded in death by beloved wife, Catherine (“Cack”) Ohlandt Marsh; parents, James P. Marsh and Myrtle (nee Hamilton) Marsh; brother James W. Marsh; and sister Edith W. Marsh.

Spinks was born in Marshville, N.C.  He graduated from Duke University in 1945 and worked in Philadelphia for 2 years before attending UNC, and then Harvard Medical schools, graduating in 1951.  He then served as an Air Force flight surgeon in Europe during the Korean War.  Upon his return, he completed residency at Yale, where he met and married Cack in 1956.  They raised their family in West Hartford, CT, where Cack practiced anesthesiology and Spinks practiced radiation oncology at Hartford Hospital. They retired to Punta Gorda, FL, where they lived for 15 years before Cack died of breast cancer in 1995.  Spinks moved to Minneapolis in 2004 to be near his daughters until his passing.

Spinks was known for his quick wit, thoughtfulness, compassion and supreme generosity.  He loved the theater, food, wine and travel.  He was passionate about education and the pursuit of knowledge, and was a champion of women, supporting his wife’s medical career and encouraging his daughters to realize their ambitions to the fullest. And boy, could he mix a mean cocktail!

Survived by daughters, Jane (Greg) Laco and Irene Marsh; grandchildren, Grant Laco and Barbara Laco.

Spinks’ ashes will be mixed with Cack’s and they will be buried in family plots in Marshville, NC and Healdsburg, CA.  Memorials preferred to the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation in memory of Cack and Spinks Marsh.