Marshall John Cook

Marshall John Cook

Sept. 3, 1944 - Jan. 29, 2024

MADISON - Marshall John Cook, known as "Coach" to many, went to his final rest Monday, January 29, 2024, at age 79.

Born in Altadena, CA, on September 3, 1944, to George and Jean Cook, Marshall graduated from John Muir High School in 1962, and received a BA in English and creative writing and an MA in Communications from Stanford University. It was at this time when he met Ellen Malloy, his wife of 55 years.

Marshall had a lifelong passion for teaching and writing. He began his career as an English and Journalism professor at University of Santa Clara, CA, in 1967, moving on to Solano College in 1971, where he eventually became Department Chair. In 1979, he, Ellen, and their son, Jeremiah, moved to Wisconsin, where Marshall joined the Journalism Department and the Division of Continuing Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From 1988 until his retirement from UW in 2009, he helped to create and taught annually at a variety of workshops and retreats including the Weekend Retreat for Novelists, the Writer's Institute, and Write by the Lake. In 2003, Marshall joined the fledgling UW Odyssey Project where for the next 18 years he passed along his enthusiasm for language and writing to nearly 600 Odyssey students. Even after retiring, Marshall continued to teach and to write. He was a published author, having written over 30 works of both fiction and non-fiction, hundreds of feature articles and short stories, plus countless newsletters.

He was also devoted to the church and volunteering to serve others. He was an avid jogger, biked wherever he could, loved baseball, music, and all the kitties and puppies in his life. Marshall was beloved by friends, students, coworkers and family alike for his kindness, humility, and humor.

Marshall was preceded in death by his father, George Cook; his mother, Jean Beymer Cook; his brother, Dale Cook; and his cousin, Steve Hall. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Ellen Malloy Cook; his son, Jeremiah Cook; his daughter-in-law, Kimberly (Zunker) Cook; his granddaughter, Liliana Cook; and his nephews: Bryan (Kirsten) and Nathaniel Cook (Emily).

The funeral will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Visitation will begin at 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., with Mass of Christian burial beginning at 11:00 a.m., followed by lunch at 12:00 p.m. A Live stream option is available through the Cress Funeral Home website.

The family would like to encourage donations in Marshall's name be directed to the Odyssey Family Fund at: https://odyssey.wisc.edu/support.

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434