September 2018

–continued from page 15
Marsh (center) with fellow CSCP cofounders
Debbie Bolton (left) and Arlene Harder at
the 2018 Angel Gala
ing” and “psychology.” She told Robert she wanted to learn to pilot small planes and study psychology.
She said, “I may shock you now when I say that I really want to learn how to dance.”
(Traditionally, Adventists viewed dancing as a “worldly amusement” that should be shunned.)
To his credit, Robert, also an Adventist, supported her through it all.
Marsh enrolled in a master’s program in marriage and family counseling at Phillips Graduate
University in Encino. In 1979, she set up a practice in her husband’s medical office, as well as
at her church. At the church, she led seminars, teen groups and women’s groups. She earned her
doctorate from Kensington University, a now-defunct correspondence school. For her dissertation,
she compared private and church counseling programs.
After 24 years in Glendale, the Marshes moved to La Caňada Flintridge, where she lived
for more than two decades until they downsized to a condominium in Pasadena. In the late
1980s, an acquaintance pressed Marsh to do something to support the psychological needs of
cancer patients. So she observed therapists at Santa Monica’s The Wellness Community (now
the Cancer Support Community Los Angeles), a support group for survivors and their families,
and decided to start a chapter in Pasadena. With the help of three others, in 1990, she launched
the highly successful Wellness Community–Foothills. Known today as Cancer Support Community
Pasadena, this chapter has served over 24,000 people with groups and workshops run by
specially trained mental-health professionals.
Raising the funds to launch the nonprofit was a major undertaking — one that deployed
many of Marsh’s talents. “She’s a tremendous influencer,” says Gilman. “And there’s definitely
a steel structure underneath that beautifully dressed, charming woman.” Despite her abundant
energy and varied interests, Marsh is focused and organized. Gilman says she “very carefully
selects how she wants to serve and remains loyal to serving that group.”
Marsh is still devoted to the Music Center and the L.A. Master Chorale, especially their
outreach programs for children. “I feel that if you have children who get interested in music,
they have a whole different take on life,” she says. “They rarely get into trouble if they get into
music.”
The last four years have been hard ones for Marsh: first her husband and then her
daughter passed away. Yet she finds joy in her grand- and great-granddaughters
and believes that her involvement in the arts has eased the pain.
Encouragement from friends at Cancer Support Community
Pasadena has also helped. “I think we’re all here for a
reason,” she says, “and if I can make the world a
little better, then I’m really happy.” ||||
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