Marillyn Jane Nass

Marillyn Nass, 92, of Fargo, ND, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Sanford Broadway Medical Center in Fargo.

Marillyn Jane Nass was born on April 1st, 1931, in Cleveland, OH to Edwin and Beulah Nass. She attended school in Cleveland, OH and graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School on June 17th, 1949. She then received her B.S. in Education from Ohio University in 1953, and received her Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences Masters in 1955 from Penn State. She worked briefly in Nebraska and then Vermont as Instructor of Physical Education for Women until 1959 when she arrived on the North Dakota State University campus, in Fargo, as an assistant professor of Health, Physical Education and Recreation in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Marillyn was recruited by NDSU and other institutions because of her love of dance. She created dance programs at each school she worked at. Upon arrival at NDSU she again started a dance troupe that she named Orchesis, which continued until her retirement from NDSU on May 15th, 1993. She directed 32 Orchesis dance concerts, was petitioned by Little Country Theatre to direct its production of "Of Thee I Sing" and was the director and choreographer for 12 Blue Key All Campus Musical Comedy productions from 1960-1972 as well as 8 musical comedy productions at Moorhead State University. All these activities led to Marillyn being named Dance Educator of the Year in 1989 by the North Dakota Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Marillyn also served on many committees, including the Senate Executive Board, Honors Day, Academic Affairs, Public Event, and Fine Art Series. She served as president, vice-president, and secretary of the NDSU Quarter Century Club.

On July 1st, 1971, Marillyn was promoted to Associate Professor of Women's Physical Education at NDSU and in 1980 was named chair of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. Marillyn was a popular choice as a student advisor and served as an advisor to Blue Key Fraternity, the Air Force ROTC Angel Flight, the NDSU cheerleaders, pom pom girls, and was the 'Faculty Friend' to the Gamma Phi Beta, Phi Mu, and Alpha Gamma Delta sororities. She was named Outstanding Academic Advisor in Humanities and Social Sciences in 1988.

She was named Professor Emeritus by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education at their April 1993 meeting.

Other accomplishments of Marillyn's include:

· Being chosen to appear in the 1966 edition of Outstanding Young Women of America.

· Receiving the First Woman in Nation Award in 1968 and becoming the very first female member of the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity.

· Receiving the NDSU Mortar Board Outstanding Woman Educator Award, 1971.

· Receiving The Recognition of Excellence Award in 1975 from the General Association of Physical Education for College Women.

· Distinguished Educator Award, 1978, Blue Key National Honor Fraternity.

· Woman of the Year in the Arts In 1984, Fargo YWCA.

· YWCA's 1984 Women of the Year recognized Marillyn in the Distinguished Leadership category for her significant accomplishments made to the FMWF Communities.

· Receiving the Project: Inspiration Award in 1984 for her positive influence on her peers from the National Association for Sport & Physical Education.

· The Mortar Board National Honor Society honored her with the Preferred Professor Award in 1990.

· The Mortar Board National Honor Society Outstanding Organization Advisor award in 1990 for her work with Orchesis Dance Company.

· The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at NDSU presented her with the Outstanding Service Award in 1990.

· ND University System recognized her as Dance Educator of the year 1989/1990.

· National Mortar Board Outstanding Academic Advisor Award.

She was also involved in the community serving as the president of both the Fargo Garden Society and the SE District North Dakota Federated Garden Clubs and served as state scholarship chair to the National Federation of State Garden Clubs Inc., which awards horticulture student's yearly scholarships.

Marillyn was preceded in death by her Parents, and her brother Edwin R. Nass and sister-in-law Eleanor M. Nass. Marillyn is survived by her niece Becky (Brad) Hille, Canfield, OH and nephew E. Lanny (Ellie) Nass of Port Orange, FL, nieces and nephews, her adopted family from next door, The Roehl's, and her Yorkie, Teddy. She will be missed.

Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, ND