Dudley Marchi

Son of Alfred and Mary Marchi, Dudley was raised in Newton, MA surrounded by extended family living throughout the Boston area. He had fond memories of large family gatherings and traditions over the years which laid a foundation for the rest of his life.

Inspired by two H.S. teachers, Dudley developed an interest in history and French, which he pursued in college through the study of Comparative Literature. With degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and UNC Chapel Hill, Dudley completed his Ph.D. from Columbia University and accepted the position of Assistant Professor at NC State in the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

This launched a professional career of 35 years. During his journey to Associate Professor and Professor, Dudley served the department in leadership roles including Faculty Director of Study Abroad Programs in France, Assistant Department Head, Interim Department Head, and Associate Department Head, a role he held for 21 years. Known as a student advocate, Dudley was proud to receive several outstanding teacher awards. It was in the classroom where he brought his love for learning, enthusiasm for knowledge, and its relevance to students’ personal and professional lives.

Dudley’s current scholarship focused on the cultural connections between Paris, France and the Harlem Renaissance and led to a new course, The Harlem Renaissance in Paris. His most recent book chronicled the arrival and growth of Huguenots in NC which gained interest from NC families eager to share documents and stories passed down in their families.

To family and friends, Dudley will be remembered for his kind and gentle spirit, positive energy, and unwavering faith. He was curious and appreciative of the world around him and grateful to those who enriched it over the years. He loved family life, any activity with his sons, and was proud to watch them become kind intelligent men. Dudley made time every day for creative and community activities including being Papi to grandchildren, playing guitar, cooking from scratch, writing poetry, coaching youth sports, being a faithful fan of the Red Sox and Wolfpack, and sharing faith and friendship at HUMC and the University Club. That’s the short list.

Dudley is survived by his wife Beverly; sons, Jonathan and Robert; sisters, Tina Marchifrazier (Gerry) and Pamela Saarinen (Erik); brothers-in-law, Bruce Johnson (Julie) and Bob Johnson (Connie); grandchildren, Eli, Owen, and Olivia; and a host of beloved extended family.

A special thank you to UNC Rex Cancer Center and Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, NC.

A private family event will be held at a future date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dudley M. Marchi Study Abroad Award at NC State: give.ncsu.edu, search all funds, Marchi.

Arrangements provided by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh, NC.