It is with great sadness that Mount Allison University shares news of the passing of a treasured member of the University community, The Hon. Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell, OC ONB (’54, LLD ’00).
 
Marilyn was a physician, public servant, and one of New Brunswick’s most respected leaders in public life. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Mount Allison and both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto before building a distinguished career in medicine and public service. With her late husband Kenneth, she had two children Lorna and Giles.

Marilyn began her career as a nutritionist with the governments of New Brunswick and Ontario before practising medicine at the Toronto General Hospital and later at the Sackville Memorial Hospital. 
 
In 1987, 1991 and 1995, she was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick representing Tantramar. During her time in government, she became the province’s first Minister of State for the Family, championing policies and initiatives that strengthened supports for children, parents, and communities across the province. 
 
Marilyn’s public service culminated in her appointment as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick from 1997 to 2003. She later continued her national service as a member of the Senate of Canada. Her contributions have been recognized through her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the Order of New Brunswick, and the CMA Sir Charles Tupper Award for Political Action in Canada. She was recently honoured by the Mount Allison Federated Alumni Board with a Grace Annie Lockhart Sesquicentennial Pin for her distinguished service in medicine, public life, and advocacy for families, children, and literacy.
 
Marilyn’s longtime residence in Sackville sits on the edge of campus — and how fitting a place for her to reside as one of Mount Allison’s most passionate and dedicated supporters. She has been a treasured constant on campus for decades and will be dearly missed by the Mount Allison community. 
 
The University flags have been lowered to half-mast. 
 
With deepest condolences to all who had the great pleasure of knowing Marilyn.