Obituary of James H. Marshall

age 80, of Alpine, NY passed away on Monday, December 29th in his beloved home after an extended illness. He was born on July 19, 1934 in Auburn, NY. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Jane Elizabeth Brayton. He is predeceased by his parents, James Francis Marshall and Harriett Lucile Smith, his infant son, Nelson Charles Marshall and his sister, Patricia Porter Cairns. Also surviving are his six children; Anne (Elgene) Ward, Faith (Doug) Marshall-Bockoven, Naomi (Chuck) Zuckerman, Allison (Andrew) Hermann, Jamie (Nathan) Cooper and Matthew (Leticia) Marshall, and his eleven grandchildren; Sam and Emily Hoffman, Molly, Dan and Julia Zuckerman, Jonas and Lukas Hermann, Liberty and Kate Cooper, and Isabel and Liliana Marshall and many close cousins. Inspired by a great-uncle who was a country doctor, Jim knew early on that he wanted to become a doctor, too. Jim graduated from The Hill School in Pottstown, PA in 1952, Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in 1956 (majoring in zoology), and Cornell Medical School in NYC in 1960. In 1962 he joined the US Army in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX and there joined the 7th Special Forces as a Lieutenant. From Fort Bragg, NC he was sent to Ethiopia with the 6th Special Forces to train medical soldiers of Emperor Haile Selassie and was honored for his service by the Emperor himself. He left the army in 1964 as a Captain. That year he entered his second year of residency at Kings County Hospital, NY and in 1968 he became Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery and completed the program in both general and plastic surgeries. He joined the Long Island Plastic Surgery Group in 1970 and left in 1972 to open his own practice, Southern Tier Plastic Surgery Associates, in Elmira, NY on the first day of The Agnes flood of '72. Instead of seeing patients in his office, he was in a boat helping to rescue trapped residents. Jim was always learning new techniques and procedures to improve his ability to provide the best possible outcome for his patients. He did this by studying surgical procedures, attending seminars all over the world, and even consulting other surgeons to discuss specific techniques. In 1980 he traveled to Royal Victoria Hospital in Melbourne, Australia and The Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital in Japan to enhance his skills in reconstructive microsurgery. Jim was a constant student; he always wanted to improve. In that same decade, Jim founded the Burn Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital with his partner, Dr. James Sonsire. He specialized in hand surgeries, cleft palates, birth and maxillofacial defects, burns, finger reattachments and cosmetic surgeries. By using his education and training to improve the life of every person he treated, Jim gave meaning and purpose to his own life. In the operating room, Jim cultivated an environment of respect and camaraderie. His repertoire of jokes was legendary. He depended on the abilities and skills of the nurses with whom he worked. This mutual respect also included his loyal office staff. While earning the Eagle Scout badge, Jim deepened his love of the outdoors. The Marshall family vacations were spent camping and hiking in the Catskills. He became a member of the Catskill 3500 Club where he climbed all 35 mountain peaks. He assisted his father-in-law, the late Charlie Brayton, in Charlie's quest to complete the 46 peaks in the Adirondacks and the 100 highest in New England. And, a major accomplishment was his hike up to the base camp of Mt. Everest in the Himalayas. In 1999, after 27 years of practice, Jim retired to his cherished farm in Alpine, NY where he began the next chapter of his life as a nurseryman. At his Alpine Acres Nursery, he specialized in ornamental conifers and other exotic varieties. Jim always said that if he had not become a doctor he would have been a forester. Up to the end, Jim remained a voracious reader of military histories, biographies, spy novels, the Middle Eastern conflicts, etc. He had such a brilliant, encyclopedic memory that he could discuss topics of any depth, with any person, at any time. His childhood interests in stamps inspired him to learn all he could about the world, its history and the people around him. But first, and foremost, Jim was deeply connected to his immediate and extended family. He was the core, the rock, the go-to guy; his family and friends knew they could always talk to Jim to get his thoughtful counsel. He could create a connection with anyone - he truly understood people because he understood human nature. He touched the lives of many people because he was a doctor who fully believed he should follow the Hippocratic Oath. Friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira on Saturday, January 17, 2015, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Service, with military honors, will be at 4:00 p.m. Burial service will be at the family's convenience at a later time. If you wish to make a donation in Jim's honor, please consider CareFirst, Wounded Warrior Project, the Arnot Health Nursing Education Fund through the Arnot Health Foundation, Cornell Plantations or your favorite charity. The Marshall Family sends a special thank-you to the caregivers, Debi, Selene, Rachel, Jessica, Kathy and Heidi, who provided comfort and love during his final months.