Trevor Marshall, renowned historian and educator, has died at 77, leaving leading figures to mourn the loss of a “titan” in public intellectualism and celebrate his profound contributions to the history and culture of Barbados and the Caribbean.Marshall died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday just one day after his birthday. He had been ailing for some time.Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong hailed Marshall as a “titan of an educator, a titan of a historical and cultural researcher, perhaps most of all, a titan of a public intellectual”. He emphasised Marshall’s greatest legacy as his relentless dedication to educating everyday Barbadians about their island’s rich history.A life dedicated to public educationMarshall’s impact extended far beyond academia. As a “legendary” history teacher for more than 40 years at the Barbados Community College, he shaped the minds of countless students. His involvement in the National Cultural Foundation’s early programmes was instrumental, but it was his role as a public intellectual that set him apart.Ambassador Comissiong said Marshall’s greatest legacy was his relentless dedication to educating everyday Barbadians about the richness of their island’s history: “What was most impressive about Trevor Marshall and perhaps what was his greatest contribution was that to [the] public intellectual. The public intellectual is the intellectual who understands that he or she cannot simply be confined to the ivory tower, to the exclusive territory of academia that rather he or she has to make his or her knowledge, skills, time, and energy available to the wider society.