Louis D.

Marchese

Newtown’s First

Chief Of Police

Louis D. Marchese, 93, died December 29 at Danbury Hospital following a long illness. Born in Bridgeport, he was the son of the late Pasquale and Diamante Licursi Marchese and had been a Monroe resident for the past 13 years.

Mr Marchese graduated from Bridgeport’s Central High School in 1932 and was a skilled athlete in many sports, leading to a metropolitan area professional soccer career as both player and referee.

He graduated from the Northwestern University Traffic Institute in 1951, and he subsequently commanded the State Police Special Services, Traffic and Public Relations Divisions at Hartford Headquarters. An accomplished extemporaneous speaker, he represented the State Police in many public capacities, including departmental lobbyist in Hartford. He was honored with one of the first Departmental Citations for Bravery in 1943 after a daring rescue of five people, including three children, from a burning house in Redding at 2 am. Mr Marchese retired from the Connecticut State Police Department in May 1971 as senior captain and commander of the Western Division comprising troops in Westport, Ridgefield, Litchfield, and Canaan. In a distinguished 30-year career dating to July 1941, he also commanded the State Police Training Academy in Bethany and was the first trooper to work at all 11 State Police Barracks.

After his initial retirement, Mr Marchese was appointed the first chief of the newly formed Newtown Police Department in July 1971. Under his direction, the department grew to comprise 28 officers and ten support personnel at the time of his subsequent retirement in October 1987, when he was recognized as the state’s Senior Police Officer for years of service. He loved police work and never took a sick day in his 46 years on the job.

Mr Marchese was formerly employed by the Warnaco and Phillip Morris Corporations and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his beloved son, Martin L. Marchese of Greenwich; and several loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his beloved brothers, Frank and Nicholas.

Funeral services were held January 3 at 10:30 am in St Patrick’s Church, Bridgeport, Lower Chapel, with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed in St Michael’s Cemetery, Stratford.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Patrick’s Church Memorial Fund, 170 Thompson Street, Bridgeport CT 06604.

The Newtown Bee        January 4, 2007