Francis "Dale" Marriott

Marriott, Francis "Dale" 12/27/1930 ~ 05/03/2013 SAN DIEGO -- While recently visiting family, F. Dale Marriott suffered a heart attack and later died on May 3, 2013 in an Ontario, CA hospital from resulting complications. Dale was born on December 27, 1930 in Sioux City, Iowa and lived there until joining the Army during the Korean War in 1951. He served in the Free Territory of Trieste, Italy where he met his wife, Lois, while she was visiting her sister and brother-in-law, also stationed in Trieste. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 17th. Dale graduated from the University of Iowa with a BS in Commerce, with Distinction. He worked for Salinas Public Schools as an Accountant and later as Purchasing Agent from 1958-1966 when he, Lois and their five children moved to San Diego for Dale to pursue law school. During his last year of law school, he was employed as a consultant by San Diego State University to equip the then new Malcolm Love Library and to supervise the transfer of more than 750,000 volumes across campus into the new building. He graduated from the University of San Diego, School of Law, Cum Laude in 1969. After working in private practice and for the courts, he joined the San Diego County District Attorney's Office in 1973. He worked Appellate Complaints/ Extradition, Superior Court, Major Violators Unit, and was the Assistant Chief in both El Cajon and South Bay. He retired in 1994 remembered by his colleagues as a great mentor and true gentleman who went out of his way to help others. Those who worked for Dale knew him as a source of sage advice, good humor, endless patience and genuine caring. After retirement, Dale contributed countless hours of volunteer service to the Zoological Society of San Diego. Dale and Lois loved to travel and explored many cities in the United States where they especially loved visiting the local zoos. They also became world travelers visiting countries in Russia, Europe, China, Africa and the Americas. Dale equally enjoyed attending cultural events at theatres and museums throughout Southern California. He especially developed a penchant for gourmet cooking in his later years though he always enjoyed a good restaurant meal with friends and a glass of fine wine. Dale was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Ann (Schroeder); father, William; sister, Mary Lou Lonergan; and brothers, Kenneth John and Charles Montgomery. He is survived by his wife, Lois, and children, Valerie, Cynthia, David, Peter and Michelle; fourteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He will forever be missed by all who called him friend and no less by his devoted toy poodle, Gigi. Contributions in memory of Dale may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Zoological Society of San Diego. A memorial service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 655 "C" Avenue in Coronado on May 23rd, at 9 a.m. A reception will follow.