Marshall Scott Kauffman

1955-2025

On the morning of January 14, 2025, Marshall Scott Kauffman of Portland, Oregon, passed away at the age of 69 as a result of complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by friends and family.

Scott was born in Pasadena, California, in 1955. The family moved several times, ending in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he lived until he graduated from Cheyenne East High School in 1973. Scott attended Webb Institute of Naval Tech in Glen Cove, New York, for a year, then he transferred to the University of Wyoming in Laramie to study Mechanical Engineering.

There he met Donna Gibler, a Biology student at UW, and they were married in 1977. They had a son, Robert, and shortly after moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they lived until they moved to Portland in 1991.

While in Cheyenne, Scott had many professions, interests, and hobbies including performing as the popular comedian/DJ, Sherlock. He worked on radio and in the most popular clubs and would draw partiers from Denver, 100 miles away.  He’d devour every Asimov Magazine and keep the librarians busy reshelving his books. He committed to raising money for terminally ill children through the Give Kids the World organization, raising the most out of anyone in the nation that year and was awarded a trip to Disney World for his own family.

His variety of professions continued when they moved to Portland, but as a motorcycle enthusiast, he most notably invented, patented, and marketed the Green Light Trigger.  As part of that brand, he developed some other complementary products. He and his son traveled to many trade shows and rallies and even sold the products internationally. During this time, he became heavily involved with the local chapter of Mensa. He served as LocSec, editor for the OMen, and was a regular contributor of humorous pieces to the paper.   He never stopped making jokes and finding humor in every small thing.  He helped raise money for Parkinson’s research by emceeing the charity event, Blues Under the Willows, in 2001.

One of his favorite hobbies was woodworking.  He started in Cheyenne working with Robert on pine box derby cars and a dog house.  In Portland, he enjoyed making percussion instruments and flutes, especially bamboo shakuhachi.  Robert remembers how much he enjoyed sharing knowledge with him as a child, such as a discussion on quantum mechanics while in the mall at the age of seven.

Throughout his illness he showed bravery and enthusiasm to be on the cutting edge of treatments, not so he could benefit, but so that the disease may be better understood and those afflicted in the future may benefit. He insisted on getting himself up whenever he fell and would work hard to put others at ease through patience, intellect, and humor.

Scott was the son of Donald and Barbara Kauffman, both deceased. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Donna, his son Robert, his brother, Bill, sister-in-law, Cindy, niece, Kelty, brother-in-law, John Gibler, and many friends.

A Viking funeral inspired memorial service will be announced at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon, parkinsonsresources.org, to support those afflicted, or to help fund research, the American Parkinson Disease Association, apdaparkinson.org.