Col. David M. Marchand, USMCR-Ret. long-time Commonwealth of Massachusetts administrator; law professor
David Mark “Dave” Marchand, 73 of West Roxbury, MA and Vieques, PR, died after a brief illness on November 30, 2012 in San Juan, PR.
Col. Marchand was born on July 23, 1939 in Roslindale, MA to Lafayette and Alice (Holleran). The family moved to West Roxbury in 1941, where his sister Maria was born four years later. He attended Boston Public Schools until entering the Roxbury Latin School, where he excelled as a student and athlete, having served his class as President three times before graduating in 1957. He matriculated to Harvard College as a midshipman with the Navy ROTC, graduating magma cum laude in 1961.
Upon graduation, Col. Marchand attended Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
In 1964, he married Denise (Burke) of Brookline, daughter of Stephen and Genevieve (Andersen).
After serving his six-year active duty commitment, Col. Marchand entered the Marine Reserve and matriculated to Boston College Law School, receiving his J.D. in 1969. It was during this time that his career in service to the Commonwealth began, working part-time in the office of Governor Volpe.
Following the election of Governor Sargent, he served as Chief Counsel to Lt. Governor Dwight, before being appointed Secretary for Administration and Finance. Following the change in administration, he was appointed Assistant Treasurer, where he spearheaded the effort to return Abandoned Property to its owners and beneficiaries. During this period he attended Boston University Law School, receiving his LL.M. in Taxation in 1976.
He retired with the rank of Colonel from the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1991.
He taught Business Law at Salem State College, as well as over two decades teaching Legal Method in New England School of Law’s evening program.
He served in various positions during the remainder of his Commonwealth tenure, including Personnel Administrator, and General Counsel to the Comptroller, where he spent the last decade of his career before retiring in 2008.
Col. Marchand leaves his wife of 48 years, Denise, of West Roxbury, MA and Vieques, PR; a son, Michael, and his wife Melanie, of Baltimore, MD; a daughter, Elizabeth, of Scituate, MA; four grandchildren, Paul, David, Patrick, and Alice of Scituate; a sister, Maria, and her husband James, of New York; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will said in his memory at St. Theresa of Avila Church, 2078 Center St., West Roxbury, MA on December 15, 2012 at 10:00 am. Visitation will be held at Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Center St., West Roxbury, MA on December 14, 2012 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Interment will occur at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, contribution in his memory may be made to the Roxbury Latin School Alumni Fund.
SEMPER FIDELIS