James J.

Marquardt

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James Joseph Marquardt of Sag Harbor, NY, died peacefully on March 20th surrounded

by his loving family. He was 91. Jim spent winters in Longboat Key, Florida, and died

there, overlooking the water and with the sound of waves.

Jim was born and raised in Rockaway, Queens, the son of Alice (McDermott), a teacher,

and Charles, a firefighter and Deputy Fire Chief of Brooklyn. As a young man, Jim

considered a career as a priest and attended seminary. Though he ultimately chose a

secular life, Jim remained a practicing Catholic and expressed lifelong gratitude to the

church for buoying the family after the sudden death of his father when Jim was 13.

Jim attended St. Peter's College through the ROTC program and graduated with a

degree in English. He served in the Army after graduation, working stateside as a writer

and weapons instructor. Following his service, James returned to New York City and

began his long career in the advertising business. It was at one of those agencies that

he met his beloved wife Ann. Following a yearlong courtship, they wed in January 1964

and celebrated their 60th anniversary this year.

In 1970, James and his close colleague Edwin Roche began Marquardt & Roche, Inc.,

in Stamford, Ct. Over 25 years, James and Ed grew the advertising agency to over 40

employees; they sold the company to the employees in 1995. After retirement, Jim and

Ann moved to Sag Harbor, NY, drawn to the town's seaside beauty and long history of

industry and art.

Jim enjoyed creative outlets throughout his life. He was an avid photographer and, after

retirement, began a regular column for the Sag Harbor Express, focused on the town's

history and characters. Jim collected and published many of the columns in his book

True Stories of Old Sag Harbor. He delighted in stopping by local bookstores,

surreptitiously placing the books near the cash register for tourists to see.

Never far from the ocean, Jim learned to sail in his early 20s and maintained this

passion throughout his life. His last column for the Sag Harbor Express – A Thousand

Hail Marys – detailed a voyage from Sag Harbor to the Bahamas through a hurricane.

The column was published two weeks before his death.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife Ann, children Kevin, Chris and Julie, their partners,

grandchildren Daniel, Victoria and Sam, sister Ellie, numerous nieces and nephews,

and countless friends who will miss his wit, intelligence, and steadfast, loyal friendship.

Immediately after his death, leaping dolphins and a flotilla of sailboats passed the

window – a fitting sendoff for a passionate sailor and lover of the sea. He will be hugely

missed by all who knew him.