Marshall Curatolo

March 31, 1928 - February 29, 2024

Marshall Curatolo passed away at the age of 95, on February 29, 2024. He was the founder of Walden Pond Books, a beloved Oakland bookstore established in 1973. In the last year and a half of his life, Marshall finally retired, relocating to Humboldt County to be close to his daughter. He leaves behind his son, Paul; his daughter, Cassandra; his wife of 50 years, Ruth; grandchildren, Kian, Jasmine, and Blake; and an amazing legacy.

One has only to peruse the aisles of Walden Pond Books to know Marshall. He was a radical, a proponent of the arts, a lover of music, and of course, a purveyor of the written word. His liberatory politics are made plain on every shelf that centers marginalized voices and revolutionary ideas.

Over the years, the bookstore has become a cherished community space, where locals and visitors alike encounter themselves and each other in the pages of its wares. Marshall’s generosity and humility drew people in – customers quickly became friends.

As the latest best sellers change from week to week and Walden Pond shifts and grows to mirror the community that has embraced it, Marshall’s vision remains at its core.

Walden Pond Books celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, and it remains family-owned and operated. The bookstore is cared for and curated by a remarkable crew of employees. We are grateful to Marshall for establishing an institution that will always belong to Oakland. He will be remembered fondly by the community for having helped shape generations of Bay Area readers, writers and thinkers.