Obituary for
Marshall Alexander Nay
Marshall Nay, a loving husband, a wonderful father, and a doting grandfather “Dido”, of Edmonton, AB, passed away on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at the age of 94 years.
Marshall leaves to mourn his loving wife, Elizabeth (Liz) married for 63 years; sons, David (Marisa) of Edmonton and Brian (Julie) of Seattle, WA; daughter, Roxanne (Don) Scott of Vancouver, B.C.; grand-daughters, Audryana and Peyton of Seattle; brother-in-law, Bruce Rattray of Chilliwack, B.C.; four nieces and fifteen nephews; and numerous cousins and friends. Pre-deceasing Marshall’s departure were his parents, John and Anna Nay; parents-in-law, Victor and Annie Franchuk; sister, Elizabeth (Harald) Lefsrud; sister, Julia (Peter) Chilibeck; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joe and Jennie Franchuk, Paul and Anna Franchuk, Frank and Helen Franchuk, Steve and Bernie Franchuk and Julie Rattray.
Marshall was born on a farm north of Mundare, Alberta, in 1924, and was a third generation Ukrainian Canadian. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Hilliard, Alberta, and learned how to farm. Marshall went to school in Hilliard, except for one year of Grade 12 at the Victoria High School in Edmonton. In his early years he played saxophone in a number of local dance orchestras and in the military brass band in the Canadian Officers Training Corps at the University during the last three years of World War 2.
In 1942 he enrolled in an Honours Chemistry program at the University of Alberta. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree, he earned both a Master’s and Doctorate in chemistry, and a Bachelor of Education degree. In 1960, Marshall became a Professor at the University of Alberta, where he spent 29 years. In recognition of his contribution to science education in Alberta, Marshall was honoured with a number of distinguished service citations and achievement awards.
Marshall retired in 1986 with the title “Professor Emeritus” of the University of Alberta. Upon retirement, he became heavily involved in the Ukrainian Canadian community. He was a member of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians (AUUC) and held leadership positions in this organization at the local, provincial and national levels. He was a member for many years of the local AUUC-Workers Benevolent Association, a Senior Citizens’ Club and the Canadian Society for Ukrainian Labour Research. He was a founding member of the Alberta Ukrainian Heritage Foundation, and was a member of the Board of Directors, and held several key positions including Chief Executive Officer. Marshall was also a member of the Alberta Ukrainian Pioneer Association, and a representative on the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village Advisory Board of the Ministry of Community Development.
During retirement, Marshall became an “amateur historian” of the Ukrainian presence in Canada. Many of his articles about this community were published. His book, Trailblazers of Ukrainian Emigration to Canada: Wasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypow was about the first two authenticated Ukrainians to come to Canada in 1891, and was published in 1997. He was the editor of and contributor to the book, The Unforgettable Myroslav Irchan, published in 1998. Marshall was a go-getter, an ambitious person, always reaching for new objectives in life. His credo was that he had but one life to live and that he was going to live it to the fullest extent possible.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday September 29, 2018, at 11:00 am at Park Memorial, 9709 – 111 Ave., Edmonton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marshall Alexander
Nay 1924 2018..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta