Name: Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & Crematory
Address: Raleigh, NC

I only learned recently that Rodney had passed. I wish I had known sooner and could have attended his memorial. He was a truly beautiful, soulful, fun, wry, cynical, cool person who I was lucky as hell to know. I met Rodney in the late 1970s/early '80s and he quickly became my flute repairman, and so much more. A friend, an inspiration, a deep thinker, always with a sparkle in his eye and quick with a laugh. I remember bringing my piccolo to his shop once and playing picc duets and laughing hysterically as the sound waves burrowed into our brains. Rodney and I played together in the North Carolina Theatre orchestra and I will never ever forget playing "America" (West Side Story) with Rodney and two other sax players all on flutes. In another show, one time I decided to play a little practical joke on him and switched our parts before the start of the overture. He figured it out right before we were to come in, gave me an unforgettable glare, and then we laughed hard about it at intermission. I loved Rodney and will never forget his generosity and kindness to me. I'm so sorry that later in his life things got so rough for him. I hope he knows he was truly loved by so many. 

Mr Marsh was a life saver.  Two days before my gig, my sax was stolen.  I went to Marsh Woodwinds and told him my story.  He immediately went to the back of the shop, spent the next 20-30 minutes banging and clanging around, soon to return to the store front with a saxophone in great playing condition.  For a minimal fee I rented the horn and was able to participate in my last concert,

I visited Rodney's shop (on Hillsborough Street) for the first time in 1991 or 1992. I was a young beginning saxophone player and bought a box of reeds. For me, Marsh Woodwinds quickly became one of the coolest places to visit. After several visits I started to get to know Rodney and I thought he was the absolute coolest person. As I got a little older, I would get up on Saturday mornings and hitch a ride with George Knott over to the shop to hang out with Rodney. During my freshman year at Enloe, I started taking saxophone lessons with Gregg Gelb at the shop. My mom would usually drop me off early and pick me up late so I can hang out (before and after my lesson) at the shop. After my lesson with Gregg, I would have a "lesson" with Rodney..... not about playing or music but about anything in general Rodney was talking about.  I remember one night after a lesson when the shop was closing up for the day, Rodney was in the bathroom practicing flute. He was playing out of some classical era etude book. I sat an listened for a while and was amazed. That was a lesson in how to practice. 

I am so sad to hear of his passing. Rodney was a major influence on me and my musical life.

So glad that I attended the Celebration of Life yesterday for Rodney Marsh.  I learned more about him than I knew before.  Although Rodney graduated with me in the Broughton Class of '64, I did not have the privilege of knowing him when we were in school.  Didn't meet Rodney until 1996 when I moved my boat down to Jordan Creek (below Belhaven, NC) and became a member of the River Rat Yacht Club. It was then we learned we were in the same class together along with Bob Haynes (whom I also didn't know in school).  Bob and I  would often play our guitars and sing at River Rat gatherings.  I'll never forget the first time Rodney joined us with his penny whistle.  It was magical!  All though Bob and I were no where near the class of musician as Rodney, he was always very complimentary and gracious when we were playing together.  He even broke out his sax one night when we were having a karaoke party (and drinking too much beer).  He was so tasteful in his playing and really made the music sound track come alive. (I posted a picture of that night earlier in this obit).   It was sad to see him decline and lose track of us during his last years but I will always remember him.  Especially after learning so much more about him yesterday.

One of the countless endearing facets of Rodney was his sense of wonder for nature and his gift for animal rescue.
Spiders, dogs, snakes, cats, possum, tiny birds, he loved them all.
During his later months, even when few things could bring him joy, the occasional feeding of a stray cat or even sharing his meal with a large family of raccoon still made him glad. Last year, one of his happiest moment involves a small squirrel with a truncated tail. The little guy had drowned in an open trashcan full of water. Rodney found him, scooped him up and patiently dried him while exerting gentle compressions on his tiny heart. To Rodney’s delight, the squirrel finally started breathing and at some point was strong enough to climb back into a tree. Surely, he still is bouncing about, somewhere on Sheffield Rd… Thank you Rodinou.



Rodney was the epitome of cool. Suave. Debonair. As handsome as a movie star. But he was never condescending.  He was curious and open to hear others' points of view. He was always genuinely interested in and supportive of everyone's creative endeavors.
He was a generous mentor to my daughter.  The warmest kind of cool. 

Back in the the 80's Rodney and me and a group of others would do "  jazz caroling" near Christmas time.  We would walk house to house in the historic section of Raleigh and play Christmas carols but swinging hard and improvising on them.  Lots of fun and pretty cold sometimes.

I used to compose and arrange jazz gigs to be played at the Carrboro Art School, from time to time.  Rodney was always happy to play these performances.  Others were Ed Paolantonio, John Hanks, Greg Gelb, Jim Ketch, Don Eagle, Robbie Link.  It was great to write for Rodney because he could play so many instruments.  He would walk in with Bari sax, flute, alto flute, soprano sax, bass clarinet, and penny whistle.

Rodney sounds like a fascinating, talented and fun person. I wish I had known him. My deep condolences go to Jane on her loss of this wonderful friend.

Marjorie H.

I had the good fortune of meeting Rodney when we worked construction together in the 70’s.  The stand out memory from that time period was at his apartment, watching the 1972 election returns come in, when Nixon totally routed McGovern.  We were devastated.  After that, we both left the world of construction, I’d drop in at the shop periodically to shoot the bull and see what wonders he had there.  When my wife and I decided to marry in ‘86, I asked him if he could get a group together to provide some jazz for our wedding.  It was wonderful addition to the reception, outside in June, some very hot cool jazz.  We had a serendipitous encounter some years later in the elevator of a hotel in Lexington, SC where we were visiting my parents and he was returning from playing for a performance of Christmas Carol in Columbia.  Visits at the shop continued, including enjoying some of the performances upstairs.  The last time I saw him, he didn’t look well, although he still had the mischevious smile and warm welcome.  Shortly after that, the shop closed and I lost touch with him.  He was a great musician and friend, with a big heart.  I miss him in this world.

I first met Rodney when I was around 7 years old. Rodney lived two houses up from us in Bryn Mar and dated my older sister Jane. Rodney was 19, in college and drove a Triumph 750 Scrambler motorcycle, while I was struggling to get my mom to pack my school lunch the way I liked it. Needless to say, Rodney was cool. When I was around 9, Rodney gifted me with an experience that has lasted a lifetime. One afternoon, Rodney was hanging out at the house while my older sister Jane was babysitting me and my siblings. At some point, Rodney realized he needed to head up to the NC State campus for something. I do not have a clear understanding of how everything worked out in my favor that day, but this is what I know- I ended up on the back of the Scrambler, no helmet- on my way to college. I’d like to say I nonchalantly accepted an invitation to accompany Rodney on his errand, although in actuality I am sure there was a lot of begging on my part that I am choosing to ignore. Either way, it was happening. All we did was ride to the book store, down Hillsborough St. and back to my house. But with my hands wrapped tightly around Rodney, the wind in my hair, it could not get any better. I’ve had a lot of old motorcycles since then, and I love taking them out on the road- but I’ll never be able to recreate that first ride. 

I am lucky my wife got to meet Rodney at his Person St store, and I have enjoyed reading all the memories people have had of him. Thank you for letting me re live this special memory I have of Rodney as well. 



It is hard to put into words what having Rodney and Marsh Woodwinds in my life over the years has meant to me. I remember visiting Marsh Woodwinds for the first time when I was 13 with my mother. She declared the place magical and I agree with that sentiment. 

Rodney was someone I looked up to. The coolest of the cool. A great musician, the coolest shop owner, and just debonair dude. I am absolutely sure part of the reason I became a saxophone player either consciously or subconsciously was because of Rodney. Over the years I spent countless hours at Marsh hanging out, buying all my saxophones, and enjoying the community. It really was a gathering spot. He taught me a lot of lessons as I grew up that were invaluable. I am forever grateful for the time I got to spend with him and the great shop he created. What a huge loss. He will be greatly missed.


I loved Rodney. He was a good friend, a great musician and a unique person. I consider myself very fortunate to have played many gigs with him over the years. 

Rod was my back-door neighbor in west Raleigh near Meredith. We were in the Broughton Marching Band, the orchestra, and the Traveling Band together and became good friends. Rod was always fun to be with as he was a great wit, mischievous, and who could resist that handsome young man with the beautiful smile.  Lots of fond memories of our high school years, the back of the Traveling Band bus with Jan Swiger, Dudley Price, Rod, and me. We four were all together at a concert when we heard Kennedy was killed and spent the rest of the afternoon watching the news at Jan's house. That is a memory I will never forget. He was so talented, a beautiful person,  a fabulous musician, and will be greatly missed. I just hope he is at peace now.

Rodney was a dear friend, and after moving away from my home in Chapel Hill some years ago, I hadn’t seen him in way too long. I never knew anyone in his family or anything of his personal life – and that was okay. I was privileged to be among his friends because when we were both much younger, our paths fortuitously crossed in the world of music. 

I’m happy to have had numerous occasions to play with him, to enjoy his superb musicianship, his wicked sense of humor, his camaraderie and his friendship.  Rodney was one of those rare people without guile – intelligent, well-read, thoughtful, insightful and endlessly fascinating. In the years when my work would occasionally take me to Raleigh, I often stopped by his shop merely to say hello and hear his take on just about anything. I always stayed longer than planned. He would hold court while on the other side of the counter, working on repairs and simultaneously watching reruns of Mystery Science Theater.

What I recall most was that he always smiled and greeted me the moment I came through the shop door, and often lavished upon me what I genuinely felt was undeserved praise for my musicianship. He was being kind – and sincere – and it always made me feel good. In reality, I had way too few opportunities to share the musical stage with Rodney. Back in the early days of my society/cover/dance band he was kind enough to join us from time to time when we needed a solid woodwind player. He was a far better musician than I will ever be and was perpetually kind and gracious on the gig. 

I am ineffably grateful that I knew him. He will be missed, surely in the local musical community, but also for his personality and humanity. I wish so badly that our paths had crossed more frequently – and recently. My loss. Time passes, and we don’t get it back. RIP, my friend. 


 Rodney was truly a craftsman in his two professions of instrument repair and musician.

Rodney was a great musician...we enjoyed the concerts that were
small and in such a marvelous venue.

Rodney hosted some GREAT jazz concerts at Marsh Woodwinds for
several years. The acoustics were excellent and he always made it a most welcoming venue both for performers and those of us who
came to listen. Rodney provided lots of snacks for everyone and
the vintage popcorn machine was always in motion.... just like
Rodney. It was always a treat to wander around the store and upstairs just to see the eclectic decor he created. Good times....




We played in a band together way back when.  Mostly we liked to talk about vintage saxophones - loved to play them, work on them and hunt for them in pawn shops.  
Rodney inspired me to start playing the flute - he was a really good player!  
Rodney was exactly the kind of fellow musician/friend you wanted in your life.  I will miss him greatly.  

We were in Hard Times Jazz Band in the mid-70's, played many times at The Pier in the Cameron Village Underground and Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill. Rodney was such a fine musician, it was an honor to be on stage with him, Tom Bryan, Ken Moore and Charlie Norkus. Wow,  such sad news. 

Rodney was definitely a multi-talented musician.

Rodney was a beloved member of the Broughton Class of '64.  Needham Broughton High School, Raleigh, NC

This wasn't too long before Marsh Woodwinds closed shop.  Rodney in his element,  January, 2015.

Rodney was an extremely talented musician and could work wonders with just a simple "Penny Whistle."

Rodney loved getting away from it all when he came down to Jordan Creek.  Was often seen single handed sailing in his dingy.

I knew Rodney as a member of the Broughton Class of '64 and member of the River Rat Yacht Club.   He was always easy going and fun to be around.  He made a few of the jam sessions down at the river very memorable.

OBITUARY

Rodney Lee Marsh

15 September, 1946 – 25 July, 2022

Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & Crematory

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