Marcel Legare

Marcel Delphis Legare 91, passed away Saturday, August 20, 2022. He was born 13 January 1931 in Ware, MA to Delphis and Marie Vadnais Legare.

The last two years of his life didn’t do justice to this vibrant, generous man. Such is the relentlessness of dementia. He had two speeds. All ahead full, and stop. Dozens of military and civilian employment evaluations, awards, and letters of recommendation document his strong work ethic. He often explained “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, you won’t have time to do it again”.

Norma Marise Tindell, a young British shop worker, met the handsome Sailor in Plymouth, England during a deployment port of call. They were married in 1951, welcomed daughters Phyllis and Karen in 1952 and 1954 and were married for 36 years until Norma’s death in 1988. Happily, he was introduced to and married Kathleen Kirk in 1996, and the blending of our two families enriched our lives. Theirs was another love story that lasted 21 years until her death in 2017.

After joining the Navy at 17, his service to country included stints on the USS: Columbus, Elokomin, Cadmus, Suribachi, and Monrovia. Along with a stint at Fleet Reserve in Boston, he served two tours at GITMO (including during the Cuban Missile Crisis!). His shipmates called him ‘Chips’. By the time he retired from the Navy in 1971, he had earned the rank of CWO2. His experience led him to a civilian career in ship repair, working as superintendent of shipyards overseas. Locations included Diego Garcia and Jubail, Saudi Arabia. He was at work in Bandar Abbas, Iran in 1979 when the American Embassy in Tehran was attacked and he had to be evacuated on a British ship.

In addition to his parents and beloved wives, Marcel was preceded in death by his daughter, Phyllis, and six of his seven brothers and sisters (Bella, Romeo, Henri, Jeanette, Estelle, and Edward).

Left to cherish Marcel’s memory are his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Ray Nuszkiewicz of Virginia Beach VA, step-daughters Vickie Coste (Mike) of Greenbackville VA, and Debbie Hutton Sandusky (Randy) of Ridgeland, SC, Grandchildren: Kimberly Croley Harris of Gordonsville TN, Shelby Hutchinson of Port Charlotte FL, and Aaron Manuel and Brian Nuszkiewicz of Virginia Beach VA. Step-grandchildren: Becca Hutton Smith (Brian) of Rural Retreat, VA and Ali Hutton Nelson (Matt) of Bluffton, SC, and Brian Rhodes and Eric Rhodes (Kelly) of Forest Hill MD. Also mourning his death are his wife of three years, Elizabeth Ann of Chesapeake VA, his sister Ella Papineau of N Brookfield MA, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. A family celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Dad was a man of few wants, unencumbered by desire for material possessions. When it involved himself, he was frugal. When it involved his sphere of loved ones, he was extremely generous. A natural nurturer, he was easy to love. The world needs more Marcels.