Virgil Marson, of North Hampton, NH, co-owner of The Andover Shop, Andover, MA and Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA, died in Naples, FL on October 2, 2018, six days short of his 95th birthday.
Born in 1923, Whitinsville, MA, his parents were Armenian immigrants. At the age of 19 he enlisted in the US Army. Appointed First Lieutenant and Navigator of the 449th Bomb Group, he was shot down during his mission to bomb the Ploesti Oil Fields. Forced to parachute into enemy territory, he became a prisoner of war for the next year and received the Purple Heart.
After the war, Virgil went to Brown University on a full scholarship. He was Captain of the football team and graduated in 1948. That same year he co-founded The Andover Shop.
Virgil Marson was known for his impeccable taste in unusual tweeds. In the late 1960’s, he began his annual pilgrimages to the UK to work with weavers in Ireland and Scotland’s Shetland Islands to produce tweeds of his own design. He has dressed presidents, sons of presidents, members of the Supreme Court as well as high-profile celebrities. Great men depended on his eye for fashion. He has been coined “The Prince of Tweeds.”
Virgil was an avid theatre enthusiast traveling to Manhattan regularly to keep up with the latest Broadway shows. While there he also frequented his favorite jazz clubs and restaurants.
He is survived by his daughter, Nina Marson Roche, son-in-law, John Roche, son, David Marson, grandson, Maxwell Marson and sisters, Keene Ovian and Anita Parker as well as his close friend and companion, Dr. Sheila Mahoney. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Dorothy (nee Davidson) and his sister, Alice Toomey.
A memorial service in celebration of Virgil's life will be held on Sunday, November, 11th, 3:00PM at the Andover Country Club, 60 Canterbury Street, Andover, MA 01810. In lieu of flowers, donations in Virgil's memory may be made to the animal rescue group of your choice.