Wayne P. Marquis
April 5, 1953 ~ June 8, 2022
Wayne P. Marquis, 69, beloved husband and father, devoted grandfather, and dedicated Danvers Town Manager for thirty-six years, died Wednesday evening, June 8, 2022, at Beverly Hospital following a valiant battle with chondrosarcoma. He was the loving husband of Nancy (Orrall) Marquis, with whom he shared forty-six years of marriage.
Born in Saugus on April 5, 1953, he was raised and educated in Danvers, graduating from Danvers High School in 1971. Wayne earned his bachelor’s degree from Salem State in 1975, where he first became interested in municipal management. This led to a 40-year career of service in Danvers government.
Appointed Town Manager at age 26, Wayne worked tirelessly for the people of Danvers for the next three and a half decades. He was especially devoted to the children of the community, constantly advocating for their educational and recreational needs. In financial matters, his leadership was acknowledged not only by the local taxpayers but by municipal leaders throughout the state. In his management of Danvers Electric, he took the state’s oldest municipal power company and made it one of the most preeminent. During his tenure, nearly every town building was either built, re-built, or significantly renovated for the benefit of the people of Danvers. A highlighting achievement was Wayne’s role in garnering widespread support and collaboration for the building and restructuring of Essex Agricultural School into what is now known as the Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School. He proudly served as the Danvers representative to the school committee there and it is a project that held a special place in his heart.
He was an active member of both the International City/County Management Association and the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Wayne was praised for his leadership during the aftermath of the 2006 Chemical plant blast in Danversport, and in 2011, he was named a Drum Major for Justice by the Danvers Diversity Committee.
Following his retirement, Wayne continued to serve on the Danvers Retirement Board, the Danvers Community Council, and the Pillsbury Foundation.
Wayne was a longtime member of the Danvers Kiwanis Club and an active member of the Maple Street Congregational Church. He was also an Eagle Scout who passed on his commitment to scouting to his grandchildren.
Most important to Wayne was family. He always found time to coach his girls in softball and soccer and never missed a college field hockey game. Hiking in the White Mountains and parts of the Appalachian Trail, and spending time at Pine River Pond made him most happy because it was always done with his family.
Wayne also enjoyed live music, playing guitar with his friends and family, and a round of golf with friends.
In addition to his wife, he leaves two daughters, Jennifer Marquis of Winthrop and Kathryn Azevedo and her husband Ed of Topsfield; two grandchildren, Noemia and Jackson; his mother, Carolyn (Grimes) Peabody and her husband Myron of Peabody; his step-mother, Marjorie Marquis of Danvers; his siblings, Debra Marquis of Boxford, Linda Marquis and her husband Tim Markham of Peabody, and Scott Marquis of NH; his brother-in-law Bill LaCapra of CT; his sister-in-law Kathy Orrall of North Andover; several nieces and nephews whom he adored; and many dear friends and colleagues.
He was predeceased by his father, Paul Marquis, his sister-in-law, Judy LaCapra, and his brother-in-law, Peter Orrall.
His Funeral Service will be Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 10 AM in the Danvers High School Auditorium, 60 Cabot Rd., Danvers. Visiting hours are Monday, June 20, 2022 from 4-7 PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wayne P. Marquis Scholarship Fund, c/o Danvers Kiwanis, PO Box 92, Danvers, MA 01923, the Danvers Community Council, PO Box 2076, Danvers, MA 01923, or the Appalachian Mountain Club, 10 City Sq., Boston, MA 02129. For directions or to share an expression of sympathy with Wayne’s family, please visit www.LyonsFuneral.com.
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Nancy, Jen, & Katie – words cannot adequately express how deeply sorry I am for your loss. My mother and I will always remember Wayne fondly for being not only an exemplary town administrator and leader, but also a devoted friend and father. He always greeted me during my visits to Town Hall with a warm smile and a hello and loved sharing stories and updates about his girls and his grandchildren. He has left an irrefutable mark on the Town of Danvers and will be greatly missed by everyone who had the honor of working alongside him.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy at such a difficult time as this!
Love ❤️ and prayers 🙏
Alice Lipinski Tierney
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Marquis Family – He was a wonderful man and will be missed – Paul and Donna Pepper
My deepest condolences to Nancy, Jennifer, Kathryn and the Marquis family. My heart aches for you, and for Danvers, for Wayne was beloved by many. Wayne’s compassion, wisdom, and leadership touched so many of us. His legacy will live on in our hearts.
-Rev. Kevin Smith
So sad to hear of Wayne’s passing. A real hometown hero. A few years ahead of me at Danvers High and a kind and generous mentor to so many of us in the municipal management profession. Love this photo with fellow alums of what Wayne called the “Bob Curtis School of Local Government.” Our prayers are with Nancy, Jennifer, Kathryn, all of Wayne’s family, and the Danvers community. – Keith Bergman, DHS ’75
Dear Jennifer, and the Marquis family
May the wonderful memories of your beloved father be a blessing forever.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Kornel Schoenstein
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.I work for the town and Wayne was the most sincere person.What a leader he treated everyone with respect no matter who you were.He never forgot your name or anyone in your family and always took the time to say hello and ask how things were.He was truly a wonderful man and will not be forgotten.
With sympathy
Mark Wright
I was very sorry to hear about Wayne’s passing. He was an exemplar of integrity and dedication to professionalism in municipal government and served as a role model to many, many people — including me — who watched and studied how well he ran the Town of Danvers for so many years. In our personal interactions, he was always gracious and willing to share his knowledge and insights, for which I will always be grateful. My heartfelt condolences go out to his entire family at this sad time.
Neil Harrington
Salem
Dear Nancy and family,
Steve and I remember Wayne as a wonderful,humble, and caring man . He always asked about our family and shared how proud he was of his beautiful daughters. We are so so sorry for your immense loss .
Steven and Susan Owens
I am heartbroken to hear of Wayne’s passing. He was a true gentleman in the profession of Town Management and a legend in the field. I always saw him with a smile on his face and a willingness to offer advice to others when asked. He will be greatly missed. My sympathy to his family and my thanks for sharing him with the world.
Leon A. Gaumond Jr.
Town Manager
Town of Weston
So sad! My thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to Nancy, Jennifer and Kathryn. Wayne was an amazing human, a great Town Manager/leader/boss. The likes of which Danvers will never witness again. Wayne treated Danvers as it was “his hometown” and it employees like family. Rest in peace Boss. Danvers will never be the same without you!!! 🙏🙏🙏
I was devastated to learn of Wayne’s passing. Wayne was on the Town Manager Screening Committee when I was hired in Reading in 1986, and I counted him as a friend and colleague until his passing. We served together on the MIIA Board, and I always valued his wise counsel. We shared stories about our kids and watched them grow up to become fine adults. We attended each other’s retirement parties, and even with my 27 years of service in Reading, Wayne beat me for longevity in his community.
Wayne was a class act – smart, committed to his community, hard-working. He always had time to talk and listen – about personal issues or business. He was committed to his profession, and always exhibited the highest standards of ethics.
My deepest sympathies to Nancy and the Marquis family. You have many great memories of Wayne and may those memories of a life too short sustain you in the coming years.
Pete Hechenbleikner
A True Professional, Colleague and Gentleman. Bob Healy
Nancy and family we are so sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing our thoughts and prayers are with you! He was a kind and caring person always and a hard worker for the town.
He will be missed. So sorry for your loss. Hope you will find peace and comfort with his memories and love.
Nancy and John Dembowski
Wayne was a great man
Nancy, Jennifer and Katherine, we’re all still in a state of shock. Wayne is one of the greatest men I’ve met in my life. A life is the combination of ‘what you’ve done’ and ‘who you are’. We all know Wayne was an amazing town manager. It is amazing reading the outpouring of support, including one that proclaims that ‘Wayne has been the most influential Danvers person of the past 100 years”. Wow. What a legacy. Ive been blessed to have the Marquis as my next door neighbors for the past 33 years. During this time, I’ve seen first hand the kind of man, husband, father, and grandfather that Wayne is. Yes, he was a legendary and beloved town manager. But if possible, he was an even better man. Although only a couple of years older, I’ve viewed Wayne as a mentor – and tried to mirror his calmness, kindness, humbleness, selflessness, and his always family-centric priorities.
Heaven is a better place with Wayne’s arrival.
Lots of love
Bob Kelleher
Never a better person walked this Earth! Wayne was kind and compassionate…. thoughtful, generous, and honorable…. a truly remarkable human being, who was devoted to his family that he loved so dearly. To say that I’m devastated would be an understatement! But, I’m also blessed that he was a big part of my life. And I’m proud that we were best friends, growing up in the old neighborhood. Rest in peace, my dear friend.
Greg Bartosik
Dear Nancy, My name is John Chapman. Wayne and I worked together as stock boys at Jordan Marsh back when we were both in high school. In those days, I was somewhat of a nerd, but Wayne was as friendly and as inclusive towards me as anyone I had ever met. I will never forget the day that Wayne returned to the stock room very excited because he had just met a new redhead named Nancy working in the record department. Wayne informed all the other stock boys that he was to get assigned to all deliveries going to the record department. It was love at first sight for Wayne! I haven’t had much contact with Wayne over the years since our days at Jordan Marsh, but I still remember his very kind nature. Please accept my condolences on his passing.
Dear Nancy, Jennifer, Katie and the entire family:
Our hearts ache for all of you and for anyone who had the privilege and pleasure to spend time with Wayne. Although related through marriage, we considered the Marquis Family as part of our extended family…and wow, did we hit the jackpot to be able to spend holidays over the years with such an incredible man and family. Wayne made it a point to check in with me and my sons at every event and really wanted to get to know us…and he did. My sons grew to have such fond feelings for Wayne and all of you. It was impossible not to admire Wayne and enjoy anytime and really admired Wayne. At one of the last family gatherings, Wayne played music and sang with Jennifer and Noemia. What a beautiful performance and memory to have etched in our minds. You are all in our hearts and thoughts at this time. We are sending you our love and condolences, Lori, Addison, and Liam.
Thank you Wayne for all that you did for our Town
Much respect to Wayne and his beautiful family! If only all men were more like WayneMarquis, sorry for your loss.
He will be missed.
Bill Meader Class of 1971
Dear Marquis Family,
My memory of Wayne will always be of a warm-hearted and genuine man who loved his family very much. This kind nature is so clearly exemplified in the memory I have of him playing guitar and singing with Noemia at family gatherings. It was very clear that not only his daughters and grandchildren looked up to him, but many more people (including myself) and for good reason! I feel very lucky to have known him and his wonderful character. Getting to see him, Nancy, Jen, Katie, Ed, Jackson and Noemia around the holidays and over the summer at the lake was always such a joy. He was very, very loved and to see this outpouring of support is so heartwarming. I’m Sending lots of love to the Marquis Family <3.
Love,
Mia McKersie
I remember Wayne as a gracious and sweet natured soul. He so loved music and the times we shared as student and teacher were always pure joy. We spent so much time together over the years with our music lessons that I understood that Wayne was a wholly positive person. His love of music was a wholehearted love of life and love of family. As I’ve heard other say, he was always completely ‘present’, whatever he was doing. I am changed for the better for having gotten to know him and I will miss him terribly.
Love,
Phil Dubuque