John Romeo Marquis

MARQUIS, John Romeo John Romeo Marquis, 86, a long-time resident of East Hartford, died Monday (January 3, 2005) at Manchester Memorial Hospital. He will be remembered as a devoted son, brother and uncle who dedicated his life to encouraging and appreciating every member of his family. They will cherish memories of his stories, his philosophizing and his pride in the Marquis family. He leaves a brother, Ronaldo, and his wife Theresa of Windsor; a sister, Corinne Clavette of Vernon; 20 nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren. He also leaves special friends Sy Pasha and Homer Lantier. Born in Frenchville, ME, John Romeo was the eighth of eleven children born to Paul and Delina (Martin) Marquis. At 17, he left home to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, earning money for his family for three years while helping to develop Acadia National Park. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Hartford and was on active duty for 20 years, working in the air police and correction fields. During World War II, he served in Alaska as a provost sergeant and obtained the rank of technical sergeant. Later, he served in the Phillipine Islands, Bermuda and Iceland. After retiring from the Air Force, he moved to East Hartford and worked at Pratt & Whitney for 15 years. He was active in local politics and projects, including the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, and served on the state Advisory Commission on American and Francophone Cultural Affairs. Last summer, he moved to Whispering Hills Manor in Coventry. He was a member of St. Agatha and Stockholm historical societies in Maine, and a former member of the VFW in East Hartford. A funeral service will be held Friday, Jan. 7, at 1:30 p.m. at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St., Manchester, followed by burial with military honors at St. Mary Cemetery, East Hartford. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday from 12:30 p.m until the time of the service.