Marion Bridgman Slusser
Marion Slusser, a fourth generation Californian, died at home in San Rafael on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the age of 98. Marion was born in 1914 in San Francisco, the daughter of Grenville Temple Bridgman and Anita Mailliard Bridgman. Her early years were spent in Connecticut. She attended the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and graduated with honors from Bryn Mawr College.
After college, Marion moved to San Francisco and worked in the medical field. She lived principally in the Bay Area for the rest of her life. In 1937, she married James Grosvenor Macey, with whom she had four children. After her first marriage ended in divorce, she married Willis S. Slusser (Bill) in 1961.
Marion was an avid bird watcher and botanist. She was a docent at Audubon Canyon Ranch on the Bolinas Lagoon and traveled extensively with her husband Bill in the course of his work at Bechtel Corporation. Marion studied and spoke French throughout her life and for some years resided with her husband in France for part of the year. Marion also loved tennis and gardening and was a long time member of the Lagunitas Club. She graciously endured over 20 years of blindness, continuing to tend her garden even when she could no longer really see it, until two years ago. Recently, her caregivers brought her garden to her patio outside her bedroom, in large redwood boxes, so that she could enjoy the fragrances and know that it was there.
Despite her blindness, Marion volunteered at Marin General hospital for 19 years, retiring at the age of 94. An avid reader and scholar all her life, she listened to so many books on tape these past many years that both the local and state libraries were running out of tapes for her.
Marion's husband, Willis Slusser, died in 2010. She is survived by her son, James G. Macey of Keeler, CA, daughters Anne M. Macey of Torrey, Utah and Mary M. Butler (Robert) of San Rafael, CA, her stepsons, James W. Slusser (Jan) and David T. Slusser, of Knight's Valley (Calistoga), and her grandchildren Jane and Ryan Slusser and their mother, Karen Slusser, also of Calistoga. Her son, John B. Macey, predeceased her.
Marion's family is grateful to the devoted caregivers of her last years: Marion Heim, Shirley Olander and Maria Lopez. A private gathering will be held at a later date. Donations in Marion's memory may be made to the Church of the Nativity, 333 Ellen Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 or the Audubon Canyon Ranch, 4900 Shoreline Highway One, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.
