MAGGIE MARSHALL – 7/26/1960 – 10/18/2017
Whether you knew Maggie, knew of Maggie, or discovered her here, please take some moments to learn of a life well lived and please share this post far and wide. If you’d like to do more, and for those who have asked how you can help, there is info below about an organization to donate to in Maggie’s honor that helps musicians with health care needs. Please take a look. As Jimmy said, “This would be Maggie’s wish.” (Thanks to Jayne Toohey for this beautiful picture of Maggie.)
Margaret “Maggie” Marshall died in her home on October 18, 2017 following a brief and hard fought battle with cancer. Born on July 26, 1960, she was 57 years old. Maggie and Jimmy married in 1992 and resided at their home in Robbinsville, NJ. Maggie was senior class president at Hunterdon Central High School, began her career as an EMT at Trenton Emergency Medical Services, and graduated from Essex County Community College with a paramedic degree. An employee at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ for 32 years, Maggie was a paramedic for 27 years and staffing/payroll supervisor after that, earning the utmost respect and admiration of her supervisors and co-workers and receiving an EMS Career Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Department of Health.
In addition to her dedication and longevity at work, Maggie lived a life filled with music and friendships, festivals and Mardi Gras, bringing together musicians and an extended family of friends from near and far. Often saying they “collected” musicians, Maggie and Jimmy’s influence and impact on the wider community surrounded them, as their home was a welcoming epicenter of song and togetherness whether it was in their backyard or at “The Front Porch” at a music festival. Maggie was a role model to many friends both young and old, most especially to those who looked to her for guidance and strength as she helped them in her authentic way to find their true voice moving forward in their lives.
Maggie was a singer, upright bass player, and banjo player, performing for many years with her music partner friend LisaBeth Weber, singing harmony and playing bass, opening shows for Ralph Stanley, Nanci Griffith, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason, Dave Grisman, and Roy Clark among others, as well as performing on radio, at music festivals and venues, and featured on two albums. A highlight for Maggie was being on stage with Dave Bromberg for an encore with Jay & Molly.
Maggie is survived by her loving and devoted husband Jimmy, her siblings Allen, Christine, Beth, Frank, and Maryclaire; Jimmy’s siblings Stephanie, Susan, Joe, and John; Jimmy’s parents Jim and Joyce, many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, the two dogs – Cayenne and Nola, and a very large extended circle of friends, neighbors, and musicians. She is preceded in death by her parents, Don and Claire Thompson.
The family is grieving in private, and will celebrate Maggie’s life at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Maggie’s memory to Music Health Alliance (www.musichealthalliance.com). Music Health Alliance provides life-saving access to healthcare for music professionals across the nation at no cost.