A traveler who was not distant
Marsha Bosley, former Register editor, never forgot her friends on her journeys.

By ROBIN HINCH
The Orange County Register

This year, for her 50th birthday in July, it was to have been Africa. A safari.

Next to sports and her beloved Chicago Cubs, Marsha Bosley loved travel. She'd been all over the world and was always planning the next trip, seeking out the best airfare and making sure she had comfortable shoes.

And, in typical Marsha fashion, she had brought back dozens of intriguing souvenirs - all for her many friends. Next to sports and travel, she loved doing for others.

But this year, despite her incredible strength and determination through years of fighting breast cancer and its recurrence, Marsha had to cancel the trip.

A former Register local news and sports editor for several years, she was 49 when she died in her native Chicago surrounded by her family.

Marsha (known as Bos to her Chicago friends) had loved sports since she was a little girl and knew by the time she was in high school she wanted to be a journalist.

She graduated in journalism from Ohio State University and got her first reporting job with The Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper.

After seven years at The Herald, she decided she was ready for change and adventure. She learned of an editing job at the San Diego Union and in 1983 was California-bound. Six years later, she joined the Register staff, first editing local news, then as an assistant sports editor - one of the few women sports editors in the industry at the time. She left the Register 13 years later during a series of budgetary layoffs.

She was a good editor - thorough, knowledgeable, exacting, detail-oriented and, sometimes to the dismay of her reporters, nitpicking. No detail or omission went unnoticed by Marsha, and reporters were often called at home for clarification of their stories.

At the same time, she was honest, straight-forward and compassionate with colleagues. She thought nothing of buying dinner for the staff when a breaking story kept them there late and lent a sensitive ear to a staff member with problems.

She adored the Chicago Cubs and had Cubs everything - hats, shirts, jackets, tote bags - and went to as many games as she could. She also remained loyal to the Ohio State Buckeyes and was thrilled to be at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl game when they won the national championship against Miami.

Marsha's Aliso Viejo condo was as cheerful and tasteful as Marsha herself - light and airy with colorful accents and Impressionist art. And, of course, a large-screen TV for watching sports.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and went through radiation and chemotherapy. But even exhausted from the treatments and with bandannas concealing her bald head, Marsha tried to come to work each day, even if only for a few hours.

She was determined to beat the disease and painfully conscientious about her job.

She never tried to conceal her illness and never gave up. She was a role model for dealing with illness with dignity. When she came to work, she was smartly dressed (but then, Marsha was one of those who looked smartly dressed in cut-offs and a T-shirt) and had a smile for everyone.

When the disease returned last year, it seemed an unconscionable blow. She'd done everything right, everything the doctors had told her to do. But still, she never complained. Instead, she worried about her friends' needs.

It seemed as though she had friends everywhere - here, in San Diego, up north, in Chicago. If you wanted to go to dinner or a movie with her, you had to plan ahead. Her social calendar was packed all the time.

And she was an incredibly loyal friend, staying in touch with pals she'd had in junior high. She never, ever forgot a birthday.

In the last few months, as she became sicker, she moved back to Chicago to be with her family.

When a close friend called a couple of weeks ago, Marsha actually apologized for not having called the friend sooner. She said she hadn't wanted to upset her.

So like Marsha to worry about how the friend was feeling.

Below is the obituary from the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald.

Marsha S. Bosley

Services for Marsha S. Bosley, 49, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, at Congregation B'nai Emunah, 9131 Niles Center Road, Skokie. She was the beloved daughter of Richard and Barbara; devoted sister of Janet (Jay) Miller and Scott (Katie) Bosley; and proud aunt of Aaron, Rachel and Robyn Miller, and Brian and Sarah Bosley. Marsha was also a loyal and cherished friend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kellogg Cancer Center, c/o Glenbrook Hospital, 2100 Pfingsten Road, Glenview, IL 60025 or the Palliative Care Center, Hospice of the North Shore, 9701 Knox Ave., 3rd Floor, Skokie, IL 60076. Arrangements were made by Piser Funeral Service, Skokie. Friends may visit www.dailyherald.com/obits to express condolences and sign the guest book. For funeral information, (847)679-4740.

Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald on 5/23/2004.