Marian & Tom’s Story
Love, commitment, volunteerism, faith and dedication and a commitment to nature.
During their high school years at Mehlville High School, Tom Rollins fell head over heels for the prettiest girl in school, Marian Malisos. They shared various teenage adventures and realized their love for each other. In 1962, Tom and Marian were married. Tom enlisted in the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California. Marian joined him at base housing until Tom was called to serve in Vietnam.
Tom and Marian had two children, Wendy and Tammy. Upon Tom's return from the war, the family moved back to the St. Louis area, where they had a very close-knit extended family. Tom pursued a career in insurance, eventually focusing on maritime, and co-founded Jefferson Barracks Marine Service with his high school friend, George Foster. JB Marine, a barge and towboat company, was established along the Mississippi River in Oakville.
Tom and Marian always embraced nature and adventure. Hiking, cycling, and diving played significant roles in their lives. They traveled the world to observe wildlife and developed a passion for photography, exploring every continent. They were early supporters of Walter C. Crawford's Raptor Rehabilitation Project, now known as The World Bird Sanctuary. Both were actively involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of birds, with Tom serving on the board of directors and Marian volunteering in bird care and public education.
Their family expanded as Wendy and Tammy started families of their own, and Tom and Marian became loving grandparents to five grandchildren. They cherished this new role, with family and faith playing vital roles in their over 60-year marriage. They also enjoyed motorcycle trips with friends, where Marian often wanted to stop to admire fields of sunflowers.
On November 10, 2017, Marian was diagnosed with Dementia. Tom and Marian, always focused on health and fitness, were shocked by the diagnosis. They educated themselves about the condition and adopted a stricter diet and fitness regimen to help Marian manage it. As Tom, now retired and Marian's primary caregiver, they discussed what stimulated Marian and encouraged physical activity.
They considered the additional land near JB Marine, a significant portion of which Tom and George donated over 300 acres of the lower portion of Cliff Cave Park. Another 32 acre portion was donated to Great Rivers Greenway to extend the walking and biking paths near Cliff Cave. Tom and Marian envisioned a place dedicated to sunflowers and wildflowers, providing activities for those rehabilitating from Dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, PTSD, cancer, and heart disease. They also wanted it to be a community space, fostering smiles and family connections.
In 2023, over 300,000 sunflowers were planted, and in August, Marian’s Place opened to the public. Sunflowers live about 4 to 5 weeks, and through word-of-mouth and social media, nearly 500,000 people visited. Tom and Marian met hundreds of visitors, exchanging stories with many facing similar challenges.
A few weeks later, Marian's condition worsened. Surrounded by family, a strong faith, and loving caregivers, Marian maintained her sweet and vibrant spirit until her passing. Tom remains dedicated to sharing Marian’s Place with the public, upholding its mission of nature serving as a place for wellness and community.
In 2024, Tom received a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, potentially due to exposure in Vietnam. Despite this, he remains committed to Marian’s Place. In 2024, the gates remain open, with a new crop of 400,000 sunflowers planted. Future plans include expanding the natural habitat, shoring the floodplain, and providing access to wildflowers, wild grasses, and wellness activities for veterans and the larger community.
A Desire To Heal
Thank you to the extremely talented Tony West with assistance from Jeff Mahar for the video above.
In the summer of 2023 we were blessed to open our gates with the help of Marian. Marian delighted in her visits to the sunflowers, witnessing the joy they brought to people's faces. Tom and Marian would arrive in their old Chevy truck, meeting many who shared their stories. It brought Marian immense joy, and we are grateful that she could share her time and love with so many after opening her flowers to the community.
Shortly after this video was shot the sunflowers went dormant for the season and Marian’s condition took a turn for the worse. The time spent interacting with the public and sharing her journey with Dementia was meaningful to her. When she could no longer talk with us we would show her images from her summer and they were moments of connection.
We loved Marian very much and hope that Marian’s place will always be a place that brings the community a place to heal or stay healthy, surrounded by nature and beauty. And we hope that it always brings many the smiles it brought to our family.
