Dr.Edward F. Marra

Dr. Edward Francis Marra, 96, of RiverMead Road, Peterborough, died peacefully at the Monadnock Community Hospital on July 24, 2012. Dr. Marra was born in Poughkeepsie, NY, the youngest son of Mary and Thomas Marra. Upon graduation from high school, a family doctor sparked his interest in medicine and Edward enrolled in the nursing program at the Hudson River State Hospital in Poughkeepsie. He remained with the hospital for eight years before moving to Hartford, CT to supervise the industrial nurses at the Pratt Whitney aircraft plant. While working nights at the plant, he became a student at Trinity College in Hartford and proceeded to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in two and a half years. At Trinity he also had the good fortune to study with Clarence Watters, a renowned organist who appointed him the student organist for all College chapel services. These were the years of World War II, and the war intervened in Edward’s life as it did for so many others. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the USS Portland. There his medical skills were put to good use during a savage storm on the Atlantic which severely damaged the ship and caused many casualties among the troops being transported home from Europe. At the war’s end, Edward finally realized his dream of becoming a medical doctor and earned his M.D. at Boston University’s School of Medicine, to which he returned as a Professor of Medicine after completing his residencies. He remained at the Medical School until 1961, taking a Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University along the way, and creating programs emphasizing the need to understand patients within the larger context of their family and societal situations. In 1961, he moved to Buffalo, NY to assume the Chairmanship of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Buffalo Medical School, where he remained until his retirement. Dr. Marra enjoyed 25 years of his retirement in Orange Springs, Florida before returning to the Northeast to become a resident of the RiverMead Retirement Community. In each location he made deep and lasting friendships. As a physician and as a friend, he insisted on treating people in their wholeness. His interests were wide and varied and he shared them generously. His family and friends are deeply grateful for the gift of his life. Survivors include his two nieces, Sydney Thomas of Temple, New Hampshire and Beverly Hacunda of Poughkeepsie, New York, and six grand nieces and nephews, and their children.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 1:00 PM in the family lot at Arkport Cemetery, Arkport, New York.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Dr. Marra’s memory to the charity of one’s choice.

At Dr. Marra’s request, there will be no calling hours.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, August 3, 2012 at the Congregational Church of Temple. The Reverend Roger Daly will officiate.