Friends and family remember John D. Marsellus as a civic leader — a man whose love for Central New York was as deep as his devotion to his family. His lifelong passion for the community was evident in his continuous engagement with countless organizations, including his family’s renowned casket business, Marsellus Casket Co.
The Marsellus family has a long and generous history of supporting the community and partnership with the Community Foundation. That legacy began in 1973, when John’s father, John F. Marsellus, established a donor-advised fund at the Community Foundation, which he used to manage his charitable giving for nearly three decades. Building on that legacy, John and his wife, Candace, later created several different charitable funds to facilitate their personal annual commitments, as well as the broader evolving needs of the region they called home.
Born in 1939, John graduated from the University of Virginia in 1960 and served in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps from 1960 to 1963. After marrying Candace in 1966, he became the fourth generation of his family to manage the Marsellus Casket Co. in Syracuse. Founded in 1872 by his great-grandfather, the company operated for over 130 years, earning worldwide acclaim for exceptionally crafted hardwood caskets.
The company, originally headquartered in a 70,000 square-foot, four story brick building on the banks of the Erie Canal, provided caskets for U.S. presidents, governors and other prominent individuals and celebrities. Notable recipients included Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Nelson Rockefeller, Vince Lombardi, Mickey Mantle and more. Over his tenure, John served as president for 15 years and chairman for 10. Under his leadership, the company continued to build on its reputation for quality and distinction, serving clients across the nation and around the world.
John lived a life marked by impact and intention, devoting much of his time to causes close to his heart — including education, environmental conservation, health care access and nonprofit staff development. For more than 50 years, he made sustainable, meaningful change by serving on the boards of the American Red Cross and the Community Foundation, participating as a member of the Syracuse Rotary and volunteering with countless nonprofit organizations.
Outside of his philanthropic endeavors, John’s professional leadership efforts earned him deep respect. In 2015, he received the Lifetime Recognition Award from the Casket & Funeral Supply Association of America (CFSA) for his years of devotion to raising professional standards and moving the death care industry forward with positive and progressive action. He was also honored by Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit organization dedicated to wetlands conservation, for his lifetime charitable support.
As noted in an article by Eagle News, John fostered a strong sense of community within his company. “From the person on the floor to John D. Marsellus, everybody made you feel like family,” said Mike Beardsley, a former CFSA board member who worked at the company for 30 years.
That same spirit of inclusivity and long-term investment in people extended beyond the workplace into John’s philanthropic and educational commitments. The Marsellus family has also maintained a strong connection to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), one of the nation’s oldest and most respected institutions dedicated to environmental studies. Their perpetual support helps ensure that future conservation leaders continue to earn degrees and shape the future of environmental sciences.
In addition to supporting environmental education, John and his father believed deeply in nurturing leadership within the nonprofit sector. John honored this mutual interest by working with the Community Foundation to develop the Marsellus Sabbatical program, giving local nonprofit executives the opportunity to step away from their daily responsibilities for reflection and planning. LeadUP CNY, later renamed The Marsellus Next Generation Leadership Development Program, and the Marsellus Forward initiative evolved from John’s initial concept of nonprofit capacity building. They were designed to help both seasoned and emerging nonprofit leaders prepare for current and future responsibilities through personal and professional development.
While the Marsellus family’s legacy of generosity will continue to shape Central New York, these efforts reflect John’s broader commitment to long-term, strategic philanthropy. His personal passions and his dedication will be sustained for generations thanks to his thoughtful planning. Determined to ensure the causes he cherished would thrive long after his lifetime, John worked closely with the Community Foundation to craft a detailed charitable plan designed to address current needs and seed future opportunities.
He once noted, “For the future, I have complete faith in the Community Foundation’s investment stewardship and that my fund will continue to grow and provide support for important community organizations.”
John’s legacy is one of purpose-driven generosity and enduring impact. Through his foresight and heartfelt giving, his commitment to Central New York will continue to enrich lives for generations to come — a testament to the power of purposeful philanthropy and a life well lived.
