Marcel Duval

June 10, 1919-October 9, 2014

At the age of 19, Marcel Duval, who has recently sadly passed away at the great age of 95, was flying a Halifax bomber on day and night missions from an airfield in England. Squeezed into his seat next to his co-pilot, he flew over 60 combat missions for the Allied war effort in 1943-1945, fighting with many others for the freedom of Europe, together with American Allies. Despite the loss of many of his comrades, mostly gunners in the plane under his command, he survived and was awarded one of the highest British awards for gallantry, the Distinguished Flying Cross. Born in Paris, France, in June 1919 of French parents, his father an active member of the Paris Bar (attorneys) and well-known criminal defence lawyers, Marcel went to the French Lycee, High School, in Paris. In his early teens he became a racing bicycle enthusiast. He also was a lover of French art, often visiting the Louvre art gallery in Paris, where he spent many hours. It was some 60 years later, when he returned to Paris that he astonished the curator of pictures by noticing that one of the great French masterpieces had been moved to another gallery. There are not many people who can genuinely say, like Marcel, that he knew Pablo Picasso personally, visited Picasso's studio and regularly had lunch over a glass of wine. He later recalled that the studio was absolutely packed wherever one looked with paintings three or four deep on the floor, sculpture and ceramics. His education was interrupted by the outbreak of war and he escaped the advancing troops with his younger brother by walking hundreds of miles (in a pair of most uncomfortable, new, ill-fitting shoes—the new shoes "seemed like a good idea at the time" before starting on the walk) across the Pyreenean mountain range between France and Spain, mostly at night. His escape was only partly successful, as having succeeded in evading his pursuers in France, he was immediately captured by Spanish troops loyal to President Franco, the dictator. Together with several hundred fellow French patriots who had also managed to cross into Spain, he was held in a Spanish prison where daily rations consisted of one slice of hard bread, some water, and the peelings from oranges. Marcel nevertheless survived, unlike many of his friends, after many months in prison. He had lost over 60 pounds in weight and was released due to the intervention of the American Ambassador for which Marcel was always grateful. Upon regaining his freedom (and weight), he managed to travel to Casablanca, Morocco (North Africa), which had not been invaded, where he decided to learn to fly single engine aeroplanes with the intention of training hard to be able to join the Free French Air Force as a pilot. After learning to fly, he made his way to England, where he gained his "Pilot's Wings" and command of a Halifax heavy bomber under the ultimate control of the English Royal Air Force. After the War, Marcel was again on the move and he travelled to London, which had suffered greatly due to bombing. His outgoing and easy manner gained from the camaraderie of the air force meant that he swiftly rose to managing a succession of prominent and popular night clubs where he met stars such as Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington, who became drinking buddies. After a number of years in the night club scene, such as Churchill's (popular with American service personnel) and La Pigalle in London, he successfully ran a number of famous restaurants. He even served Charlie Chaplin. But when he met his beloved Cynthia, later to be his wife, he travelled to New York, to follow her as she had just been appointed as an art appraiser at Sotheby Parke Bernet. Cynthia and Marcel were later married in Las Vegas. In New York, Marcel continued his chosen profession, running the Rainbow Room, whilst Cynthia worked in Sotheby's in the art world. However, the sun and relaxed life, which contrasted with the hustle and bustle of New York, drew both of them to Florida. After the many years of night clubs and restaurants, and the adventures in France, Spain, Morocco and England, and over the skies of Europe, Marcel retired to enjoy life, his French cheese (particularly brie) and French red wine. He became a home lover in Sarasota, then St. Petersburg and most recently, Daytona. It is with much fortitude that Marcel spent the last year of his life in a Daytona medical facility, where he entertained the staff and was much loved for his sunny approach to life. Sadly, he passed away peacefully on 09 October aged 95, leaving his loving and devoted wife, Cynthia—his best friend, his step-son, Jonny, who he always treated as his own son, and his wonderful daughter-in-law, Julia, and grandchildren Alexander, Katie and Tom. This was the passing of a colorful character, a war hero and adventurer. In 2013, he refused the great honor of the Croix de Guerre, France's highest military honor for services to freedom, as he felt humbled that he had survived whilst many of his fallen comrades did not, in Marcel's words, "make it". Marcel always said that he regretted nothing, having spent 50 years laughing with Cynthia, Chief Curator at MOAS, the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Marcel was "a character" and will be sorely missed by family and friends.