Marlin Gottschalk

Husband, father and environmental advocate Marlin Ralph Gottschalk died Monday, May 23rd after a lengthy and heroic battle against cancer. In addition to being Director of the Sustainability Division of GA's Department of Natural Resources, a founding father of The Clean Air Campaign and the primary force behind countless other pivotal initiatives to improve quality of life in Georgia, Marlin had the rare gift of being a positive impact on everything and everyone he came in contact with. He was universally respected, a man of strong moral values who spoke of them with a voice that inspired confidence. Marlin will be remembered for his kind smile and impeccable sense of humor. He enjoyed thoughtful discourse, interacting with nature and smoking a fine cigar... though not necessarily in that order. His legacy will remain alive through his impact on our city, our planet and his family. Marlin is survived by his wife, Kathy, and his two children, Rachel and Russell and a brother Kenneth Gottschalk of Florida. A Memorial Service will be held in his memory this Friday, May 27th at 11 AM at the Emory Miller-Ward Alumni House (815 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30329). In lieu of flowers, please make donations to support skin cancer research and education, marked "in memory of Marlin Gottschalk" to Emory University Department of Dermatology, 1440 Clifton Road NE, Suite 170, Atlanta GA 30322.