Cal Marlin
January 1, 1930-November 9, 2010
Cal Marlin died on November 9, 2010 in Santa Barbara, California. Cal was born in Humboldt Kansas on January 1, 1930, the son of a Methodist minister. He served four years in the U.S. Navy, playing the tuba in the Navy Band. His career as a television cameraman began in Miami, Florida. It was there he honed his skills as a television cameraman leading to a coveted job at CBS News. Cal set a high standard of photo-journalism earning the respect and gratitude of Presidents and Press Corps alike. He traveled the world with Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Bob Cirace, George and Marion Christian, John Daly, Jim McGlinchy, Dan Rather, Mary Wash, Dennis Brack are a few of his colleagues who agree that Cal was a first rate cameraman, perhaps the best ever. The much desired assignment to ‘cover the White House’ was usually rotated among staff but Cal was so good at his job that he eventually became the senior White House cameraman maintaining that position until he retired. Cal earned the respect and gratitude of news giants Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, Dan Rather, Marvin Kalb, Daniel Schorr, Lesley Stahl, Ed Bradley, Diane Sawyer, Bob Schieffer, Bob Pierpont, Phil Jones, Jim Stewart, Erick Engberg, Rita Braver, Susan Spencer and David Martin. Each of these careers was enhanced in many ways by Cal’s extraordinary talents. He was pleased to be quoted in best sellers by Mudd, Stahl and Rather. He was also a good friend. One day George Christian was ill at work Cal made sure he was rushed to the hospital. George’s wife Marion recalls fondly Cal calling her to say “not to worry, I’ll take good care of him” – and so he did.
Cal knew precisely the importance of his work. He had a keen assessment of
the history he was witnessing and of what the nation was experiencing. Cal fondly recalled – though at times reluctantly – his White House CBS days. He is survived by a nephew and two nieces.
A service will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, November 19, 2010 at Santa Barbara Cemetery and a reception following at the Cafe Del Sol in Santa Barbara. In his memory donations may be made to Community Kitchen, P.O.Box 24116, Santa Barbara, California 93121. For more information contact David L. Peri at (805) 563-1049.