Marion Short Obituary, Death – Marion Dolores Short died peacefully on November 5, 2022, surrounded by her beloved children and grandchildren. She was born on August 28, 1924, in New York City, the daughter of John and Helena McCann. Mrs. Short predeceased her husband, Minneapolis businessman Robert E. Short. They met during a Tea Dance for United States Navy Officers during WWII. “There’s a wonderful girl, why don’t you marry her,” then-Commander Short reportedly urged a friend when he first observed her. “Why don’t you?” suggested the friend. What was the fated response? “I think I will.” And he succeeded. Mr. and Mrs. Short were married on September 27, 1947, in New York City’s Church of the Blessed Sacrament.
Mrs. Short is survived by her seven children: Robert Short of Edina, Brian Short (Kathleen) of St. Paul, Marianne Short (Ray Skowyra) of St. Paul, Kevin Short of Mahtomedi, Elizabeth Short (Dr. Jon Floriano) of University Heights, Ohio, Carolyn Short (Joseph Torsella) of Flourtown, Pennsylvania, and Colleen Short Lucke (Stephen) of Edina. Kathryn (Sam), Robert (Mary Rose), Michael (Morgan), Louis (Carolyn), Nicholas (Alexa), Caitlin, Caitlin, Maura (Joseph), Anna, Emily, Daniel, Jessica, Maureen (Tom), Elizabeth, Travis (Camille), Kelly (Quinn), Joey, Gracie, Patrick, Paul, and John; and 13 great-grandchildren, Rory, Grace, Loretta Marion, Teddy, Her nieces and nephews in New York, especially Susan Dougherty and Anne Matarazzo, will miss her greatly.
Mrs. Short was predeceased by her beloved siblings, Catherine Ingram (David), John McCann (Grace), Helena Gelderman (Edward), and Josephine Buzzallino (Angelo); her nephew and godson, Paul Buzzallino; and her cherished niece, Joan Buzzallino. Mrs. Short grew up in New York City, just blocks from Central Park, as the youngest daughter of Irish immigrants. Her parents arrived to Ellis Island as teenagers and were reunited by God’s mercy. They instilled in their children the value of leading meaningful lives. Her father was named Clerk of the City of New York’s Municipal Court, Second District, Manhattan, and her mother was the unofficial guardian of those in need, mainly Irish immigrants to New York. (“She’d ride the subway for hours simply to assist Catherine’s pal with her new baby.” Mrs. Short graduated from The College of Mount St. Vincent in 1945 with a degree in English and an aminor in Art History.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Short moved to Washington, D.C., where Mr. Short worked as an Assistant United States Attorney. Soon after, they moved to Mr. Short’s home state of Minnesota. Mrs. Short famously questioned what had become of her life, deprived of her Irish clan and unaccustomed to subzero temperatures, but she persevered and succeeded with a gentle nudge from her mother. As Mr. Short pursued a business career, Mrs. Short settled into the rhythms and responsibilities of parenting their seven children. Mrs. Short wrote in a letter to her sister, “Among our many activities are two Girl Scouts, one Brownie, one Boy Scout, one Cub Scout, one ‘Crusader for God,’ two altar boys, two choir boys, one in Great Books Club, two boys in the band, two piano lessons, one trombone lesson, and one trumpet lesson.
But they were all at different times!! I have no help (apart from the same elderly cleaning lady I’ve had for 14 years) and am hoping for a new car for Christmas. One has an ironing board, a stove, and a washer and dryer. I just hope no one thinks of one!” Mrs. Short was an active supporter of her husband’s campaigns for Lieutenant Governor in 1966 and for the United States Senate in 1978. She supported his purchases of the Minneapolis Lakers, who he transferred to Los Angeles, and the Washington Senators, who became the Texas Rangers. Mrs. Short served as President of the company Mr. Short founded for several years after his death in 1982. While she was pleased with the company’s growth and success in banking, trucking, and real estate, she preferred her personal, day-to-day interactions with the people she admired and respected. Mrs. Short cherished her time with her family the most. She hosted 64 consecutive Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.
During the festivities, her grandchildren enjoyed running through her house and uncovering the hidden treasures of her walk-in attic. In a school essay, her grandson Patrick commended her as “the perfect embodiment of unselfish service” after observing her “labors of love” and the “countless times” she babysat. Mrs. Short was a member of the Minneapolis Human Rights Commission, the Mother’s Board of St. Thomas Academy, the University of Notre Dame Women’s Advisory Council, and the University of St. Thomas Board of Trustees. Mrs. Short and her husband have been appointed to the law faculties of the University of Notre Dame and the University of St. Thomas.
Mrs. Short will be remembered for her elegance, grace, and bearing, as well as her Irish sensitivity. “The nuns were committed to our perfection, especially in terms of how we spoke and presented ourselves, lest we give the world reason to look down on the Irish,” she recalled. She had an uncanny ability to locate the exact word—often in a clearly Irish manner. She possessed an exceptional sense of style, fashion, and aesthetics. She saw God’s hand in practically everything and campaigned for prayer and rosaries during difficult times. Her children and grandchildren were always at the forefront of her mind because she was devoted to her family. She will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 15, from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Gill Brothers Funeral Home, 5801 Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis, and on Wednesday, November 16, from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 5071 Eden Avenue, Edina. Following that, a Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11:00 a.m. A private interment will be place at Resurrection Cemetery. If desired, memorial gifts can be donated to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church or The University of St. Thomas.
