Obituary of William Frank Marzluff

William Marzluff passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 after a long illness. He was born on February 2, 1923, the son of Ferre and Phyllis Sykes Marzluff and grew up in Rochester, New York. After graduating from Monroe High School he entered Union College in 1941 where he was a chemistry major. In June 1944, he joined the Navy as an Ensign. He married Alice Gilman, whom he had known since high school on June 29, 1944. He served in the Pacific until the end of World War II in August 1945 and was discharged from the Navy in April 1946 as a Lieutenant. He returned to Union and completed his bachelor of science in June 1947. He then went to Purdue University where he completed his PhD in chemistry in 1951. They moved to Stamford, Conneticut where Bill took a position as a research chemist in the American Cyanamid Company. Here they raised their three children. He was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Stamford, a leader in the Boy Scouts of America, and served a term on the Stamford School Board. They were active in boating on Long Island Sound. Bill spent a sabbatical year in 1959 at Oxford University which was the first of many visits to England. In 1973 they purchased their first sailboat and 5 years later Bill retired from American Cyanamid. They purchased the Kestrel, a 31 foot sailboat, which become their home for the next decade. They sailed every year from New England to Florida and spent six months a year in the Abacos, where they made Hopetown their home port. In 1988, they purchased a home in Rockledge, FL but continued spending several months a year in the Bahamas and sailing to New England. Since 1995, they lived year round in Rockledge, FL. During their years in Rockledge, Bill was active in the Rockledge Presbyterian Church, singing in the choir. He also was a member of the Space Coast Flute Orchestra. He worked with the Friends of the Brevard Central Library, participating in the library book sales for many years. He and Alice delivered Meals on Wheels for more than 15 years. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2014. Alice passed away February of 2015. He is survived by a sister, Mary Reynolds, of Willowick, Ohio; three children, William Marzluff Jr. of Hillsborough, NC; Donald Marzluff of Loganville, GA and Martha Marzluff of Rockledge, FL; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Rockledge Presbyterian Church on 921 Rockledge Dr., Rockledge with a reception at the church to follow.Donations can be made to the Rockledge Presbyterian Church Organ Fund or to the Friends of the Central Brevard Library.