Ian Marriott

Ian Marriott
September 6, 1952 – June 11, 2023
Scholar, athlete, good friend, beloved husband, and lover of the arts, Ian Marriott, 70, of Scottsdale, AZ, died after a hard-fought battle with cancer on June 11, 2023.
Ian was born September 6, 1952, to Jack and Irene Marriott, in Manchester, UK.
Always an excellent student, he also excelled in track and field, and was awarded many prizes for both during his grammar school years. On graduation, he attended the University of Bristol, studying Latin, and moved on to University College London, where he achieved his doctorate in Late Roman Historiography.
His doctoral studies opened the door to his career, but not in his chosen field. He began using computers to facilitate his research, helping to compare and analyze writings from that period in history, which eventually brought him to a career in the computer industry. He worked at Digital Equipment Corporation in England, where he met Cilla Riley while participating in business meetings in England and Ireland. Seven months later, they were married at the Reading Register Office in England. Ian and Cilla soon moved to the US, first to Maryland, then to California, and settled down in Washington state for 25 years. Ian retired to Arizona after a 19-year career in software development and management at Microsoft Corporation.
Ian was a lifelong fan of Manchester United, whose football grounds were a stone's throw from his childhood home. It was a joyful day in the Marriott household when Premiere League Football became available via satellite TV.
Ian never played an instrument, but enjoyed all forms of music, classical especially, with Beethoven his favorite composer, and the 6th symphony the Pastorale his favorite work. He loved stories in all their forms good books (anything by William Boyd, Julian Barnes, Carl Hiaasen, Christopher Moore, just for starters), theater, opera, ballet, and good movies. He doted on his dogs, and leaves his Gracie, a Yorkie pup, missing him very much. He traveled whenever he could, with Cilla at his side, all over Britain, France, and Italy. In his late 50s, he resumed his enthusiasm for athletics, taking up road cycling and became a keen distance and climbing rider. He never did anything half-way, and until he became ill, always met his goal of 100 miles of riding or more during the week.
His parents and extended family raised him to be the loving, smart, kind, engaging, charming man that his friends and colleagues loved and respected. His dad, Jack, modeled kindness; his mum, Irene, spoke to and charmed everyone she met, wherever she went, as did Ian; granddad Harry, a WWI hero, was a loving heart with a sunny disposition, teaching Ian perseverance, honor, and strength in the face of adversity.
He loved people, engaging easily with everyone he encountered, and he made many friends throughout his life. He often said, regarding this, that he was truly his mother's son.
Ian is survived by Cilla, his wife of 36 years, a son by a previous marriage, and in-laws, nieces, and a nephew.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Should you wish to honor Ian with a donation, please consider the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group or the Foothills Animal Rescue Scottsdale.