Geraldine “Dina” Marshall with her son, Representative Aaron Michlewitz.
Geraldine (Dina) Marshall, a longtime North End resident, dancer, painter, scholar and mother of Representative Aaron Michlewitz, has died.
Marshall, who has lived here since 1968, died after a courageous battle against lung cancer.
A life-long Bostonian, Marshall was born in Dorchester to the late Kenneth and Eleanor Marshall. Before her recent battle with cancer Marshall was a survivor of breast cancer and was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at 8-years-old.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you of my mother’s passing,” said Representative Michlewitz. “Geraldine Marshall battled with many illnesses and fought right up to the end. My father, my family and I are heartbroken.”
Marshall was a Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Boston University where she also received a master’s degree in Philosophy at a time when women made up a small minority of the program.
She moved to the North End in 1968 and met her husband, Dr. Harold Michlewitz MD, at an Italian evening class at the old Christopher Columbus High School. The couple would marry in 1978.
Together, she and her husband traveled extensively and were both fluent in several languages.
Marshall was an avid patron of the arts and was an accomplished dancer, painter and scholar.
A proud moment in her life came when her son was elected as State Representative from Boston, serving the neighborhoods of the North End, Chinatown, South End, Bay Village and Beacon Hill.
“My mother left me with countless gifts, but two that have stuck with me recently,” said Representative Michlewitz. “One, was her unwavering perseverance which gave her the strength to keep fighting in even the toughest of circumstances. Second, was the North End. My mother moved to this neighborhood in the 1960s, settled here and decided to raise her family here. It is a gift that never stops giving and has been extremely vital over these past few tough months. I want to thank everyone who has sent us prayers, good wishes and now condolences.”
As she was a very private person, the family choose to honor Marshall through a closed remembrance and ask that in lieu of flowers that donation could be sent to either Christmas in the City, christmasinthecity.org/donate/ or North End Music and Performance Arts Center (NEMPAC) www.nempacboston.org/donate.
In addition to her husband and son, Marshall leaves her brother Dr. Barry Marshall and wife Doreen of the North End, her sister Katherine Marshall MD, and husband William Riley of Waltham, her brother Kenny Marshall and Julie Tran of Allston, her brother Kevin Marshall of Scituate and her sister Ellie Marshall of Somerville. She also leaves her sister-in-law Debbie Michlewitz of Queens and nephews Michael Pasinkoff of Manhattan, Derek Marshall-Riley of San Diego, Brian Marshall-Riley of Quincy and Cullen Marshall of Scituate. Ms. Marshall was the sister of the late Brian Marshall of Scituate and Jeanmarie Marshall of the North End.