Craig Marsh dedicated his life to the community and provided service in various arenas.
The retired Nassau County Schools superintendent died April 18. He was 89 years old.
When he and wife Sue moved to Callahan in 1952, Marsh owned a Gulf service station for 17 years. Within a few years, Marsh’s community impact expanded into politics when he served on the Callahan Town Council from Oct. 3, 1955 until his last meeting Oct. 2, 1961.
Before his council exit, then-Mayor H.R. Ray presented Marsh with a gold key “that he may always unlock the door to Callahan, Florida,” said Susan Mitchell, the town’s administrative assistant.
By 1969, Marsh returned to education. He held a Master’s of Administration in Education from the University of Florida.
During an interview with the Record in 2016, Marsh said, “I think everybody ought to have a good education.”
In 1976, Marsh was elected superintendent, a post he held for 16 years.
Former Nassau County School Board Attorney Marshall Wood assisted Marsh for at least 12 of those years.
He expressed his admiration for Marsh via email Friday.
“Aside from being a wonderful and moral person, which he was, Craig was the finest administrator I have ever known,” Wood wrote. “He was a fair and competent manager of people and he was as knowledgeable about school administration and school law as any person in the state of Florida. I admired him greatly and I have fond memories of working with him. And of course, I always considered him a friend.”
Retired Superintendent Dr. John Ruis fondly recalled his friendship with Marsh. Ruis succeeded him as superintendent in 1993.
“Most of us encounter some very good people in our lifetimes to know and work with,” he wrote via email Monday. “Sometimes we are fortunate enough to be associated with someone great that comes into our lives. For me, Mr. Marsh was that person. I will always hold the utmost respect for him and am blessed to have worked with and been influenced by him.”
Hilliard Mayor Cris McConnell recalled how Marsh hired him in 1981 to serve initially as maintenance director. The job title was later changed to facilities director.
“He was the greatest mentor next to my father,” he said April 19. “If I had not had a father, I would have chosen Mr. Marsh.”
McConnell served the school district until his retirement in 2008. He recalled how Marsh spearheaded the construction of Callahan Middle, Yulee Primary and a new Fernandina Beach High School.
“He said, ‘Let’s go to Tallahassee and get the money,’ and we did,” McConnell recalled.
The receipt of state funding was made possible by Marsh’s diligence.
“It was because he had done his research,” McConnell said.
The two friends spoke regularly by telephone and helped each other with building projects through the decades.
“I’m gonna miss those phone calls,” McConnell said.
Marsh shared a 67-year marriage with wife Sue, who taught at Callahan Elementary School for 36 years. The couple raised two sons, Barry and Ed.
Marsh was also an active member of First Baptist Church of Callahan for many years. Funeral services were held April 23 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Lynn Hyatt officiating.