Marshall R. Cassedy Sr.

Marshall Royal Cassedy, Sr.

Marshall Royal Cassedy passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, December 5, 2011. Marshall was born on July 28, 1928, in Short Hills, New Jersey. He was the son of Dr. Pierce Anderson Cassedy and Callene Thomas Cassedy.

From age 10 years until 14 Marshall lived as a choir boy at St. John the Divine in New York City. He then attended the Pingry School in Short Hills and matriculated a post graduate degree at the Taft School in Connecticut. In 1951, Marshall received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y. where he was President of Kappa Sigma fraternity and captain of the golf team. It was there he met his wife of 59 years, Donna Anderson Cassedy. Upon graduation, Marshall joined the Marine Corps and trained at Parris Island and Quantico and was stationed at Cherry Point. Ultimately he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1956, Marshall obtained a law degree from Duke University and moved with Donna to Orlando. From 1956 until 1958 Marshall practiced law with the firm of Turnbull and Senterfitt.

Marshall came to Tallahassee in 1958 as the first Staff Counsel of the Florida Bar and became Executive Director in 1961. As Executive Director, Marshall went on to earn a Certified Association Executive degree from the American Society of Association Executives.

During Marshall's tenure as Executive Director of the Florida Bar, the membership size grew from 7,500 to 26,000 members. Under his leadership, the Association won numerous national awards including the top award for overall excellence from the American Bar Association during the years 1975-1979. In 1979 Marshall also received the award as the most outstanding bar executive in the nation. Other awards received include the "Delegate Fred" award given by the National Association of Bar Presidents and the Herbert Harley Award from the American Judicature Society. However, Marshall was most proud that the Florida Bar headquarters was conceived and constructed during his tenure.

After retiring his position at the Florida Bar in February of 1980, Marshall established the law firm of McFarlain and Cassedy, P.A. with Richard McFarlain. Marshall concentrated his practice in Administrative, real property and appellate law. He retired from private practice in 1996.

Marshall held memberships in the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar, the Tallahassee Bar Association, the American Judicature Society, the American Society of Association Executives and the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE). He was President of the Florida Society of Association Executives and President of the NABE, Chairman of the American Bar Association of Section of Bar Activities, and Chairman of the Governor's Management Advisory Committee for the Department of Professional Regulation and was appointed to the Special Commission to Implement Interest on Lawyers' Trust Account. He was a fellow of the American Bar Foundation since 1969.

His civic activities include membership in the Tallahassee Rotary Club, Colonel's Club, service on the Board of Directors of the Tallahassee YMCA and the Governor's Commission on Migrant Affairs. Marshall was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and a Eucharistic Minister at the Church of the Advent.

Marshall enjoyed the outdoors and was accomplished at golf, sailing, tennis, skiing and photography. For him there was no lack of enthusiasm for life and friends, especially his Monday lunches with his Marine comrades, his Monday night tennis group and his Golden Eagle golf buddies. His family will always cherish his legacy of home movies and photos. He will always be remembered for his engaging personality, bright simile and happy disposition. Family, faith and country defined Marshall.

Marshall is survived by his wife, Donna Anderson Cassedy and four children, Marshall R. Cassedy (Susan) of Tallahassee, Thomas Anderson Cassedy (Denise) of Tampa, Cricket Cassedy O'Neill (John) of Seattle, WA, Melissa Cassedy Wesel (Jerry) of Concord, MA. and their children Case (Ally) Cassedy, Richard Cassedy, Pierce Cassedy, Cameron Cassedy, Katie Cassedy, Carolina Cassedy, Shane O'Neill, Cassedy O'Neill, Blake Wesel, Graham Wesel and Hudson Wesel.

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM, EST, Friday, December 9th at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Tallahassee, with burial and military honors following at Roselawn Cemetery, also in Tallahassee. A reception for family and friends will follow in the church parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Advent 815 Piedmont Road, Tallahassee, Fla. 32312, Big Bend Hospice 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, Fl. 32308 or Alzheimer's Project 301 Tharpe St., Tallahassee, Fl. 32303.