CHALMERS MARQUIS Jr.

CHALMERS MARQUIS Obituary

MARQUIS CHALMERS H. MARQUIS, JR. Public television pioneer Chalmers H. Marquis, Jr. passed away on March 24, 2018 at age 91 in Alexandria, VA. Born in Bloomington, IL, Chalmers served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46 in the Pacific. He earned degrees at the Universities of Chicago (1948) and Illinois (1950). In 1955, Chalmers joined Chicago's educational television station, WTTW. In 1965 he came to Washington, DC, first to work at the National Association of Educational Broadcasters, then as VP of National Affairs at PBS, and later at the National Association of Public Television Stations. He helped pass The Public Broadcasting Act and lobbied for funding for "Sesame Street" to be seen by generations. Hailed as "Public Television's voice on Capitol Hill," Chalmers was awarded the Ralph Lowell Award for his contributions to public broadcasting in 1992. Chalmers lived at Lake Barcroft in Falls Church, VA for over 50 years. Chalmers played bagpipes with the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe Band for 22 years and was an active member of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC for 30 years. Chalmers is survived by his sons, Bruce of Ashland, KY and Brian (Margaret) of Alexandria, VA; and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC on April 8 at 12:30 p.m. A memorial service will be held at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC on April 8 at 12:30 p.m.

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Published by The Washington Post on Apr. 1, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for CHALMERS MARQUIS

1 Entry

John Seidenberg

April 1, 2018

In 1965, the year I turned 9, the Marquis family moved next door to us coming from Chicago. The experiences knowing them span most of the years of my life now. I can't say I realized then the enormous role Chalmers Marquis had in public television. I just remember two different years attending an educational broadcasters' convention downtown at the old Sheraton Wardman Park with Brian, the younger son, and being able to operate a TV camera and write my name on screen in the exhibit area. One of those conventions coincided with the introduction of Sesame Street. The second year I knew the Marquises we went to a charity pet show at Hickory Hill, the home of Robert Kennedy who was still living. I only managed to get a single picture of RFK with a new Polaroid as he stood talking to someone. But I remember Chalmers going over to speak to him that day and wished I had captured that shot. The son of the next door neighbor on the other side, who was very interested in broadcasting, credits Chalmers for getting him interested in attending the University of North Carolina for the radio, television, and film department.

The friendship of our parents and with the other neighbors on our end of the street made for such a convivial atmosphere. I know things could not always have been as sanguine as they might have seemed but it was still possible to imagine. Even when Chalmers was no longer our neighbor, he didn't forget the kindnesses to people such as calling my mother after my father's death and coming to a party for her after she moved from our neighborhood. He also attended our wedding and sat at the same table with some of our other former neighbors, friends, and family members. My parents were both gone by then but I thought the sight of everyone together at that table reminiscing would have heartened them greatly.

I think of him as a most unassuming man who was motivated by his goals for and advocacy of public television and children's programming. In addition, the measure of what kind of father he must have been has to be in the enormous care Brian showed for him at every possible step of his long Alzheimer'soften in the face of numerous obstacles. He was someone of talent, dedication, and commitment. Chalmers led me to think too of remembering to notice and appreciate when you're fortunate to have a giant living next door.