Marchese, Madeleine R.
Madeleine Relyea Marchese of Greenwich, Connecticut died at her home on August 19, 2013 after a short illness. By her side was her loving husband of 44 years, Paul, a well-known architect in Greenwich. One could not meet Madeleine without feeling instant respect and affection for her. She was an active member of the Greenwich community for many years, and brightened every endeavor with her professionalism, humor, and, most especially, her style. Her affiliations and accomplishments include her role as President of the Garden Education Center of Greenwich, former Board Member of both the YWCA and the The Arts Council of Greenwich, and a long and active member of Green Fingers Garden Club of Greenwich. Madeleine was a trailblazer on many fronts during her successful 25-year career as an executive with Texaco Inc., a global energy company. She held many key leadership positions while at Texaco, including as Director and Spokesperson of the Alternate Energy Division and as Associate General Manager of Texaco's Fuel and Marine Marketing Division, where she was instrumental in establishing strategy and developing new business ventures globally. After retiring from Texaco in 2001, she partnered with her husband in their architectural firm, Paul Stephan Marchese Architects. Together, Madeleine and Paul established their firm as one of the top architectural firms in Greenwich. Madeleine also showed her passions and talents in the world of ballroom dancing. She was a National as well as Pro/Am World finalist in her division in the American Smooth dance style in the XYZ Competition, and was named Champion of the 2011 Holiday Dance Classic Champion in Las Vegas and the 2012 Capital Dancesport Champion in Washington, D.C. Her favorite dance was the foxtrot because of the playful sassiness of the dance, followed by the waltz danced to Broadway music. As she put it, she loved the "ooziness" of the dance. In addition to her husband, Paul, she leaves behind her brother, George E. Relyea, and his wife, Susan; a niece, Charlotte Relyea Ronzoni, and her husband, Adam; a nephew, Richard Vaurie Relyea, and his wife, Alison; and four grandnieces and nephews, all of New York. Madeleine was predeceased by her parents, Dr. George M. Relyea, who passed away when Madeleine was very young, and Madeleine Vaurie Relyea Weatherby, both of Summit, New Jersey. There are no words to express the pain of losing someone as special and gifted as Madeleine … she made life so much better for being with us. A Memorial Service will be held for Madeleine on Friday, September 6th at 2 p.m., at the Round Hill Community Church, 395 Round Hill Road, Greenwich, Ct. 06830 Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to the Garden Education Center of Greenwich, 130 Bible Street, P.O. Box 1600, Cos Cob, CT 06807, or to the Greenwich Hospital Home Hospice, 500 West Putnam, Suite #150, Greenwich, CT 06830.