Marcus Reed Tool

Marcus Reed Tool passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2018 in Carmichael, California. He was born in Murdock, Nebraska on August 3, 1921. He is survived by his sister Patricia McHugh, son Larry Tool (Joann), daughter Marilyn Jio (Craig), seven nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Lillian Redington Tool, his parents Marty and Mina Tool, and his elder brothers Warren and Jean. Marc moved to Denver with his family in 1937. He divided his college years between the Universities of Nebraska and Denver. He met his wife Lillian at the D.U. Promenaders folk dance group. They enjoyed many skiing trips to the Rockies and were married in 1943. After graduation he enlisted in the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army. In 1944-1945 he served as an officer in the Italian campaign of WWII, and was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for gallantry. After the war he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where he earned a doctorate in Economics in 1953. He was an Assistant Professor of Economics at San Diego State College for two years before moving on to Sacramento State College in 1955. He served there as a Professor of Economics through 1983 and as department chairman from 1971 - 1974. Semi-retired in 1983, he continued as Professor Emeritus, teaching classes half-time, and was the editor of the Journal of Economic Issues from 1983 to 1991. He edited "A Report on the California State Colleges Under the Master Plan" for the Academic Senate in 1966. He was President of the California State College Professors who fought against Governor Reagan's cuts to higher education in 1967. He chaired the Committee for a Democratic University to bring accountability and shared governance with faculty and students in 1977. He was an adherent of Neoinstitutional Economics, a progressive philosophy that promotes participatory democracy, choosing equality over greed. He was author of five books including The Discretionary Economy: A Normative Theory of Political Economy, published three times. He participated in seven professional organizations and lectured widely in numerous national and international conferences on Institutional Economics. Marc was a devoted husband, brother, father, and grandfather. He loved to ski, beginning in Colorado and later in California. He cultivated bonsai and owned and cared for several dozen at his home in Sacramento. He was a classical music lover and with his wife Lillian sang in the local Sacramento Chamber Singers choir. They were members of the Unitarian church and also sang in the church choir. They also attended the San Francisco Symphony and Opera for many years. His gentle wit and kind, loving manner will be remembered and he will be greatly missed by his family and all others who knew him. The family wishes to thank Marc's care facilities and compassionate companions who cared for Marc over several years including Sunset Carmichael, Splendor of Carmichael, and the Hospice care program. Donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation. Memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Church, 2425 Sierra Boulevard in Sacramento, on Sunday, February 3, 2019, at 3pm.