When Walt Marshall was born in Princeton, his father was teaching chemistry at the University. But by 1942, his father was in Schenectady heading the General Electric research lab’s chemistry section. After Walt earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering at Harvard, Schenectady and GE became his home from 1950 to 1987. During those years, as manager of GE’s materials and processes laboratory, he directed work for the U.S. Department of Energy, the Electric Power Research Institute, and GE’s Large Steam Turbine Division.
In one of his favorite achievements, Walt used studies of worker productivity to persuade tight-fisted GE management to install air-conditioning in the plant’s just-plain-hot original building No. 5.
Walt’s favorite place was his 150-acre farm at nearby Delanson (population 400). There he produced dahlias, raspberries, and fresh vegetables. From their home’s 1,800-foot altitude, he and his family enjoyed a commanding view of the Schoharie Valley.
After his retirement, Walt moved to Trappe, Md., to continue gardening and to sail as a senior member of the U.S. Power Squadron. At the time of his death Jan. 20, 2013, he was survived by his wife, Jean; sons David ’71 and John ’74; daughter Katherine Bastian; and eight grandchildren. The class sends them heartfelt condolences.