Marie Nymen Ohlsen

 Librarian at SPHS from 1947 - 1953

Marie Numen Ohlsen was born in Chicago October 19, 1918 to Harry and Myrtle Nymen and died June 21, 2011.

After Marie graduated Carl Schurs High School in 1934, she attended North Park College, then Northwestern University, from which she earned a BA Summa Cum Laude in 1940 and a Masters degree in 1942. In 1943 she received a scholarship to attend graduate school at the University of Michigan. There she met and married a fellow grad student, Woodrow Ohlsen in 1944. Instead of pursuing more advanced studies, they decided to move to Southern California and apply for jobs in the city college system. They were successful in Pasadena, where Marie was hired at Muir City College and her husband at Pasadena City College.

A son, David, was born to them in April 1946, and Marie was the Librarian at South Pasadena High School from 1947 to 1953. Marie was hired as an assistant professor at Cal State Los Angeles and spent her last eighteen years teaching there until retirement in June 1977. She was an excellent scholar and inspiring teacher, especially of Shakespeare and poetry. Her husband and son are deeply grateful for what she gave them of her work, charm, and love.

Santa Barbara News-Press, July 12, 2011