Marshall Schlosberg Obituary

Schlosberg, Marshall
NISKAYUNA - Marshall Schlosberg, 72, died peacefully at home in Niskayuna, N.Y., on Monday, February 19th, 2024, after many years of living with Frontotemporal Degeneration. His loving family was at his side.
Marshall was born a proud Brooklynite on October 26, 1951, to Sydell and Seymour Schlosberg.
He later moved with his family to Bellmore, N.Y. where he and his brother, Dean, graduated from John F. Kennedy High School. He studied pre-med at SUNY Albany before changing his major (in the second semester of his senior year) and transferring to SUNY Cortland, where he learned to be the coach he was destined to be.
Though enjoying various careers throughout the years, coaching wrestling at Newark Valley High School was the one that brought him the most joy. The bonds he forged on the mat - both coaching and officiating - gave him decades of meaningful friendships and memories. Marshall was inducted into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Association Hall of Fame and the New York State Intercollegiate Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well as the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his Lifetime Service to Wrestling, honors he cherished. Marshall has also been selected for inclusion in the New York State Section IV Athletic Hall of Fame.
Marshall also enjoyed a long career at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network as a Financial Planner/Investment Specialist.
Marshall knew as soon as he met Liz in an elevator at SUNY Albany that he would marry her. Marshall was happiest when he was creating joyful events to share with Liz. Their marriage lasted 48 years and ended far too soon.
His daughter, Deia gave Marshall an infinite amount of joy and pride. At any given moment, with a mere look and few words, they understood each other. His face would unfailingly light up, even in the depths of his illness, whenever she walked into the room.
Marshall's son-in-law, Conrad was a bright addition to his life, providing him with laughter, tenderness, and opportunities for the occasional loving eye roll. In later months, Conrad's nightly serenades to Marshall brought him peace.
Marshall had many interests - planning and executing travel and road trips, biking, hiking, kayaking, camping, and in later years, sitting on the patio watching birds in his favorite red tree.
Marshall also spent many hours on the golf course. He had a love-hate relationship with the game, the love part referring mostly to his golf buddies and the scenery. Upon returning home from a round and being asked, "How'd it go?" he would often sigh, "It was a beautiful day..."
Marshall's love of music brought much delight to his life and to those around him - from playing Rhapsody in Blue on the piano, to singing Take It to the Limit with friends at every opportunity, to performing Les Mis with his brother over too-many beers late into the night.
A devout pragmatist, Marshall freely shared his philosophy of Nowism, his term for how he sought to live life. When approached in parking lots by curious strangers about his NOWISM bumper sticker, the ensuing conversations left them nodding their heads in agreement and leaving with a smile (and sometimes a sticker of their own, joining a wide-ranging fleet of NOWISM-adorned vehicles far and wide).
Marshall's beautiful smile will be remembered by many, as he shared it freely, genuinely, and frequently. Though this cruel disease - FTD - stole so much, it never took his smile, which remained a comfort to his family and friends until the very end.
Marshall was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Dean. He is survived by wife Elizabeth MacFarland Schlosberg, daughter Deia Schlosberg, son-in-law Conrad Yaney, nieces Amanda, Lisa, Morgan, Kate, Natalie, Rachel, and nephew Trevor, sisters-in-law Mimi, Lisa, and Aida, and brothers-in-law Jamie and Andrew. He is also survived by many loyal and loving friends who gave him immeasurable love and laughter even through his final days.
Our sincerest appreciation and love to Lystra, whose skill, compassion, and humor in caring for Marshall made his quality of life better than we could have hoped. Also, thanks to Tifa and Tora for their gentle expertise with Marshall's care. We are especially grateful for the support of Community Hospice at Marshall's end of life; their team left nothing wanting in the constellation of care they provided our family.
Marshall's strong desire was to donate his body to further scientific research and study as part of the Anatomical Gift Program at Albany Med. He would be glad to know this wish was fulfilled.
Donations in Marshall's honor can be made to:
AFTD (The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration) at AFTD, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, Pa., 19406, or at https://www.theaftd.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/
The Community Hospice at The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, N.Y. 12208, or at https://www.givetocommunityhospice.org/donate