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Obituary: Westbanker Dr. Robert Davidson Marion dies at 57
Friday, February 27, 2009 | Smithville Times |
Dr. Robert Davidson Marion was born New Year’s Eve 1951 in Charlotte, N.C. Sadly, he left this world in his hometown, Austin, on Feb. 21, 2009.
As a boy, “Bobby” spent summers swimming and playing at the Charlotte Country Club. He was an athletic young man, a top state wrestler, football player and graduate of Myers Park High School. He became a strong and able man while at the University of North Carolina. Upon graduation, he traveled extensively before landing in Boston, Mass. to apprentice as a chef under his life-long mentor and dear friend, Hiroshi Hayashi, at the Seventh Inn Restaurant there. He then studied macrobiotics with Michio Kushi and Tai Chi with Master T.T. Liang.
After completing his training, he moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains to start his family. From there, Robert, his wife Janis, and son Luke left for Santa Fe, N.M., where Robert studied acupuncture at the Kototama Institute from world-renowned Sensei Masahilo Nakazono. He opened The Courtyard Restaurant in Santa Fe and founded the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company with his partner, Bill Drake. His sons, Adam and Noah were born there. Together, the family moved to Austin, where JoJo and the Westlake Acupuncture Clinic were born.
Robert was a well-respected pioneer in the establishment of Oriental Medicine in America, and his life work revolved around his clinic. He helped, healed and consoled thousands of people during his life, and the advances he made and the understanding of Eastern medicine he brought to the Western world will continue that work after his death. He was revered as a teacher and mentor to many in the community and to patients throughout the U.S. He made people feel comfortable in a seemingly uncomfortable world.
His sense of humor was well known and one of kind. Even in passing, the smiles and laughter that surrounded him will never be lost. His warmth and wit served him well and taught us all how to enjoy life’s simple pleasures and to “go with the flow.”
As a dad, he succeeded in raising four amazing sons, who were his pride and joy. He spoke of them often and their mutual love was felt daily. His friends and family knew him best as a generous and kind soul – one that will rest peacefully. He was a father, a brother, a healer and a friend.
His father, Paul Blaine Marion, of Charlotte, N.C., and his beloved second son, Adam Blaine Marion, preceded him in death. He is survived by his three sons, Luke Carter Marion of New York City; Noah Benjamin Marion and Joseph Davidson Marion of Austin, Texas; mother Frances Marion of Charlotte, N.C.; older brother Paul Marion of Tiffin, Ohio; and two sisters Sally Blythe and Reverend Patricia Marion of Charlotte, N.C.
The family sincerely requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Dr. Robert D. Marion Memorial Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, P.O. Box 3488, Portland, Ore., 97208-3488, Account No. 1993095288.
A memorial service in honor of his life will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, March 2, at Zilker Botanical Gardens, Garden Center Building. At service end, we will walk down into the Gardens for a final prayer.
We love you a million, Daddio!
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I have known Bobby since we carpooled together in the first grade. Everybody loved him for as long as I can remember. We had lots of fun, especially at AG and Myers Park High School. He and I had just reconnected recently and he was the same as always in his e-mails….funny, kind, sympathetic, and helpful. He will always be remembered for those traits and will be greatly missed by those of us whose lives he touched.
Robert has been a light in my life for decades. I will miss his physical presence more than I can say. He contributed to Casa de Luz, Center for Integral Studies, constantly by sending his patients and serving as a valuable guide. Robert touched me in so many ways. I’ll also miss my regular visits to the clinic where I experienced nirvana. I’m deeply saddened that I won’t be able to connect with him as before. All my love to Luke, Noah and Joe. Although you probably don’t remember me, you are unforgettable.
Wayo
A small statement and song for my spiritual brother Robert.
http://bit.ly/brother-robert
Blessings all.
A memory of Bobby: riding on a country road outside Chapel Hill at night, Bobby driving. A full moon. He cuts the headlights and we ride by the light of the moon. He says, “Isn’t it something?”
Robert was one of the best storytellers I have ever known, even though it probably never occurred to him to think of himself that way. He just enjoyed transmitting his own sense of the immense joy and infinite magic that he found in the world. Men and women alike delighted in his company. No one ever laughed so hard way down deep in their belly as you did when in the good company of Robert Marion. He was a gifted healer, a great friend, and we all will miss him deeply.
I have always and forever will refer to him as Doctor Marion. He healed my body and my spirit on countless occasions over the 16 or so years that it was my honor to know him. Yesterday, my daughter was complaining of a back pain brought on by a fender-bender. I told her, as I have told many people over the years, “Call Doctor Marion. He’ll fix you!” She called me back in tears with the news of Doctor Marion’s passing. I am stunned and shocked. I know there will be others who will treat me in the future – But – I find it hard to imagine that there will ever be another who can “Fix Me” like he did. To say he will be missed is simply not enough – A hole has been left in my life and my heart – Normally when I feel like this I go to see Doctor Marion. All I had to hear was him say,”Just relax and we’ll get you fixed up Daddio” and EVERYTHING was better- As so many others can truly say I say now – My life was BETTER with him in it – as was the world – No, I’m afraid, “He will be missed” is just not gonna cover it!
I am so devastated to learn of Dr. Marion’s passing. My family and I have been patients of his for the last 10 years. I can’t imagine ever getting another acupuncture treatment without hearing one of a thousand of his entertaining stories. He was larger than life! You couldn’t help but want to be around him. He made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. No matter how you felt when you walked into the office, you always felt like a million bucks walking out. He’s irreplaceable, and the world is a much better place because he was here. I will be forever grateful to him for bringing health and vitality back into my life, for I would not have found it without him.
God Bless You, Dr. Marion. You will be in our hearts forever.
My son Peter and I feel so sad that such a wonderful man has died. We both went to see Robert many years ago, and he was kind, gentle and always had a twinkle in his eyes. I was struggling financially in those days but he always managed to welcome us in his practice and never made us feel any less worthy because of our financial situation. He treated everyone with the same welcoming spirit and truly was a healer. Some people really make a difference in others lives…and Robert was one of those people.
“Doc” was such an important friend to me and Charles. We loved him for his wisdom and his unbeatable sense of humour. We always left his care feeling renewed physically and spiritually.We were hoping to see him when we’ll be in Austin later this month. We shall miss him enormously.