John "Stu" Curtis

Raised in Marblehead, he worked collecting fares on the ferries and for Mort Brown at the turkey farm. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a machinist on the USS Pascumsic. Upon his return he married Patricia Doliber, worked at the GE Riverworks then formed his own company Curtis Fence Co.

He was father of Tammy J. (Angel) Marrero of Peabody, and Pamela A. (Jay) Leroux of Delaware. He was active and life member of the Gerry 5, VFA, Market Square Associates, and the Okos.

Divorced, he then married Caroline “Chicki” Smith becoming step dad to Richard H. (Jenn) Smith of Durham, NH, and Craig (Leeanne) Smith of Marblehead.

He sold his company in 1987 and moved to Englewood, FL., worked in real estate, commercial landscaping, and doing favors volunteering and helping out neighbors and neighborhoods projects often before they realized they needed help. He took an interest in his wife’s Christmas village (a turn of the century Marblehead) adding more and more table space, trains, trolleys, etc(now donated to the Gerry 5). It was being kind to a stranger’s grandchild who was afraid of a hammock when he fell breaking his neck and suffering a spinal cord injury; technically becoming a quadriplegic. He became proficient in driving his motorized wheelchair, racing across the causeway and around the Whittemore arena while at his grandsons hockey games. He enjoyed reading, watching sports, sitting in the sun, and the Tuesday club.

Brother of Bill (Ruth) Curtis, Sandra Callaghan, and the late Dick Curtis; Papa and Ampa to Jason Gilbert , Brandon Marrero ,Melissa and Samantha Leroux, Sam ,Cooper, Eli and Lydia Smith. He leaves many first cousins also. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Gerry 5 Scholarship fund, attention Joan C., 210 Beacon Street, Marblehead, MA 01945, the Market Square Scholarship Fund, 62 Pleasant Street, Box 14, Marblehead, MA. 01945, or to the Lynch Van Otterloo YMCA (what about you.com)

A memorial service will be held at the Dr. Arland A. Dirlam Chapel at Waterside Cemetery, 294 West Shore Drive, Marblehead on Wednesday, May 29 at 11AM. Burial to immediately follow and then a gathering at the Gerry 5 at 12PM. Visiting hours will be held at the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Tuesday from 4-8 PM.