Remembering Jerry Marsh

Newark Valley resident, Jerry Marsh, passed away on Nov. 10 at the age of 76. Marsh will be fondly remembered as a community-minded individual, and who, through his dedicated research and gift for writing, leaves behind for future generations the stories of Tioga County Civil War soldiers.

Marsh was a Deputy Historian of the Newark Valley Historical Society, named Newark Valley Historical Society Veteran of the Year in 2014, participated in the dedication of the Newark Valley High School football field and stadium, and was a member of several groups, such as a Civil War roundtable. Along with countless other achievements, Marsh touched the lives of many.  

Marsh, an accomplished athlete in multiple sports at Newark Valley, was named to the Section IV Athletic Hall of Fame, and then achieved a degree in a subject he favored, that being history, at the University of Rochester. A retired U.S. Air Force Major who served in Vietnam, Marsh was a Bronze Star Medal recipient and served 20 years in the Air Force as a special agent and counterintelligence officer. In addition, his resume included a 15-year career at Link Flight Simulation in Binghamton.

In more recent years, Marsh became known for his work in bringing to life the stories of Tioga County’s Civil War soldiers and heroes. He took on researching and writing about Newark Valley’s Civil War soldiers in 2004, and in 2012, published the book, “The Brotherhood of Battle: The Civil War Soldiers and Families of Newark Valley, New York.”  

Originally, he had planned to incorporate the stories of soldiers from Richford and Berkshire as well, but then decided that material he gathered from Newark Valley alone was enough for one book. A subsequent book was in the works prior to his death.

The stories of more than 300 men from Newark Valley who engaged in the Civil War grace upwards of 625 pages of the book, where Marsh chronicled detailed descriptions of not only their service, but their occupations and families, and how they transitioned back into civilian life. Marsh traveled extensively for his research, and captured content from the National and New York State Archives, the U.S. Military History Institute as well as from the Tioga County Clerk and Historical Society. He also secured more intimate facts from diaries, letters and photographs.

Marsh was buried at Hope Cemetery in Newark Valley, N.Y. on Nov. 15. The Honor Guard of V.F.W. Post 1371 conducted full military honors. Two uniformed Air Force personnel presented the American Flag, and an Air Force bugler played Taps.

Marsh is survived by his wife and three children, six grandchildren, a sister, and other extended family and dear friends.

Jim Raftis, Sr., Master of Ceremonies, Korean War veteran and Memorial Day Chairman, shared, “Jerry made sure I always had whatever Tioga County Civil War information I needed for a story or memorial service. He constantly updated reports and had prepared new data for Veterans Day 2017,” and added, “He was absolutely a patriot.”

Ross McGraw, board chairman of the Newark Valley Historical Society, described Marsh as, “A great man and a real source of knowledge,” and Virginia Mullen of the Town Historian’s Office, a separate organization from the historical society, said, “Our group meets once a week, and Jerry was faithful in attending,” and further explained that Marsh had a knack of tracking down information, and especially answers to questions involving the Armed Services.   

Emma Sedore, Tioga County historian, commented, “Without exaggeration, Jerry was a gentleman, a talented writer and a great human being.”

Ben Gardiner, of the 137th New York Volunteer Infantry Reenactors, shared, “Jerry was a kind, generous and amiable man and his many accomplishments inspired us,” adding, “He was a constant presence at veterans events in Tioga County and was a leader in preserving the history of the Civil War.”