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LONG BEACH - 01/20/05 - The international trade and transportation community on both sides of the Pacific are mourning the recent death of George Marshall, former senior vice president of marketing for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (America).

Marshall joined Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in 1987 in Long Beach, California and was tasked with laying the foundation for the Tokyo-based ocean carrier's then newly-created US subsidiary. 

Under his leadership and guidance, the company forged one of the most readily identifiable "brand names" in the US transportation and logistics industry, grafting a long-established transpacific ocean service with one of the most efficient intermodal rail networks in the logistics business.

Prior to joining MOL, Marshall, who was born and educated in San Francisco, worked as an executive with Sea-Land Service before serving for almost two decades as the Country Manager for both Japan and Korea for American President Lines Ltd.

During his tenure with APL, he was credited in large part with introducing the concept of intermodalism to Japan.

Marshall retired from MOL in 1992 and spent the last 10 years teaching logistics and transportation at the center for International Trade & Transportation at California State University - Long Beach.

He is survived by his wife Mariko, their daughter Annie, their son, Ken, and four grandchildren.

A memorial service attended by his family and many friends was held yesterday at The Japanese Garden at California State University - Long Beach.

Donations can be made to the George Marshall Memorial Fund in support of the Center for International Trade & Transportation by visiting www.uces.csulb.edu/citt/

[A Personal Note from the Editor:

It was a privilege to be one of those who George Marshall touched with his greatness, his style, and his substance.

A genuine gentleman in a hard, cynical industry, he was many, many things, all melded together to form a man of infinite variety and wonder - self-effacing and extremely well-read, he could hold you enthralled on a staggeringly broad range of subjects from medieval Japanese history to the latest episode of The Simpson's, from his beloved koi to the latest New Yorker cartoon, and from the music of George Gerschwin to the religion of baseball and that heretical abomination - the designated hitter rule.

A sensitive artist, a connoisseur of roses, and one of the best public speakers I've ever heard, George would show up early, impeccably dressed, prepared and focused; the man delivered time-after-time, holding attendees enthralled in an exquisitely and thoughtfully woven tapestry of wry humor, wisdom, and business - our own zen Mark Twain. 

So many, many things.

A mentor; a teacher; an island of calm in an oft raging sea of trans-cultural frustration; a confidant; and a guide.

Attitude was, to him, always the key. George once counseled a young friend, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with what happens to you."

He truly cared. There was nothing superficial about the man. He would ask you how you were and mean it.

George never forgot a name; never betrayed a confidence; valued friendship and loyalty; and listened in a way that made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. He had a way of bringing the best out of people; you wanted to do your best for him because he demanded and offered in return no less of himself.

He never took himself too seriously; he never threw away a business card; never had an unkind or harsh word (even for those who genuinely rated one, or more); never lost his temper; always had a ready smile and an open office door; and was always, always the consummate professional.
    
Those who knew him - both in person and by reputation - are saddened to the core by his passing, but infinitely the better for having been touched by his generous soul. He will be greatly missed.]

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