Marion Golart

Marion Golart There was a blacksmith down the street when Marion Rose DeBarbieri was growing up on Golden St. in New London. One of the few babies born in a hospital in 1917, she was the only child and grandchild of Italian-American entrepreneurs. She had a wonderful early childhood living in the city and summering "out in the country"- a farm on Great Neck Rd. Prohibition came and the family-owned Saloon at 21 Golden St. closed. Marion's parents bought 471 Montauk in 1926 and the Leverone/DeBarbieri family bought a concession at the old Ocean Beach. Marion spent a dozen years working days at the concession and swimming in the inky black water after sunset. The '38 hurricane destroyed the beach and Eminent Domain took their property to make new Ocean Beach, which she loved for the next 6 decades. While Marion was a student at Connecticut College, Thomas J. Golart entered her life. They married in 1939 and started a restaurant, 'The Martom', at Hodges Square where they also lived. Starting a family and dealing with WW2 rationing was too difficult, so they moved back to 471 Montauk, and Tom opened a Renault and Peugeot dealership. Five children and 5 college tuitions later, the car dealership property was lost to Eminent Domain for the second bridge over the Thames. Marion and Tom divorced in 1967, yet remained friends until his death in 1997. Marion lived with her youngest daughter for many years. In 2005, crippled with arthritis and experiencing dementia, Marion moved to Bayview Health Care. They cared for her with compassion, diligence, skill, kindness and love for which her family is forever grateful. She passed away painlessly there on 6/2/13. Marion believed her greatest accomplishments were her five children. She loved to "watch the wheels turn" as they learned new things. She is survived by: Maryann (& Dick) Walton of SC, Dolly (& Peter) Burns of CT, Tom (& Cindy) Golart of FL, Bette (&Phil) Danse of FL, Wendy Wachter of CT, 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren. Burial was private. Donations in her memory: Bayview Health Care, 301 Rope Ferry RD, Waterford, CT 06385.