Danvers Mourns Longtime Town Manager Wayne Marquis

DANVERS, MA — Danvers residents are mourning former town manager Wayne Marquis.

Marquis was the third-longest-serving town manager in the state at 35 years before he retired in 2014.

"The town is saddened to hear of the passing of longtime Town Manager Wayne Marquis," the town said in a statement on its Facebook page on Friday. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and many colleagues."

Marquis was a lifelong Danvers resident who become the town manager in 1979.

"It's gone by quickly, faster than you ever think," Marquis told Patch before his final day on the job. "Life goes by so quickly, and I plan to write the next chapter my life."

Marquis also served on the town's retirement board and on Salem State University's Board of Trustees.

Marquis told Patch that his proudest accomplishments in Danvers were all the people he hired, mentored and worked with for so many years.

"I think the most important legacy is the people you leave behind," Marquis said. "I would define it by the quality of people you hire.

"I feel like I've done the best job I could do. I've put my heart and soul into it."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)