- Date Of Birth: July 5, 1923
- Date Of Death: April 3, 2021
- State: Arizona
Jean Ann Marquier Molloy passed away quietly at home on April 3, 2021. Jean was born July 5, 1923 in Orange, New Jersey, to Anna M. Hall and Adolf Marquier, a prominent pharmacy owner and Chemistry Professor at Seton Hall and Rutgers Universities. Growing up Jean would ride her pony cart with her great dane, Olof, around the quiet community of Orange, along with her older brother Frank (deceased). She attended Columbia High School and helped her father in the Rexall Drug store, rolling pills and learning how to read and fill doctor’s prescriptions. She attended Colby Junior College for Women (Now Colby-Sawyer College) in New London, New Hampshire. While studying to be a Laboratory Technician, she went on a blind date to a Army-Harvard football game in Boston. There she met Cornelius J. Molloy Jr., a dashing U.S. Military Academy Cadet at West Point. After her graduation from Colby and Neil’s graduation (on DDay, June 6, 1944) they were married June 17, 1944 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Vailsburg, couple honeymooned on Nantucket Island. Neil and his wedding party then prepared to go off to war leaving for Ft. Benning, Georgia and Jean began her new life being a military wife. In October Jean moved back to New Jersey with her parents, while her new husband shipped out and entered the Battle of the Bulge.
Her oldest son William was born while Neil was still in Europe. In 1945 Jean and Bill traveled to Frankfurt, Germany on the Liberty Ship SS Alexander to join her husband who was working as part of the occupation forces after the war. Living in post war Germany she witnessed the devastation and aftermath of war. Upon returning to the US Jean embraced the military life moving every three years making new friends and acquaintances. She thrived on the camaraderie and social opportunities while living on post with other wives and families that shared a military bond. Each move was a new adventure and on occasion a new member of the family, Michael in Colorado, Nancy in Georgia, and Jim in Puerto Rico. Jean made sure the family was well dressed for each occasion and climate as the family traveled from Texas, to Kansas, to Puerto Rico, to Washington, DC, to New Jersey, Maryland, and Canada.
As she raised the four children, she volunteered with the Red Cross, and attended monthly religious study groups. In 1964 Neil was finally stationed in their home state of New Jersey at Ft.
After 30 years Neil retired from the Army and they moved to El Paso, Texas. In El Paso they formed a large social network of other retired military friends and acquaintances. Jean was able to pursue her equestrian dreams and purchased two horses and was a Senior Champion Dressage rider in New Mexico and West Texas. She continued to ride into her 80’s. In 1995 She and Neil moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. They continued to travel to West Point reunions, Hawaii, and cruises through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean.
After Neil died in 2006 her children helped her with her wanderlust and she was able to return to Europe four times.
Jean is loved and admired for her strength and determination to be there for all. A definition of love is to will the good of the other. Jean loved us all. Jean is survived by her children, William (Lorraine) Scottsdale, Michael (Kathleen) Ventura,California, Nancy, Scottsdale, James (Nancy) Marble Falls, Texas. And her 9 Grandchildren, Pamela (Kevin), Angela, Jennifer, Gene (Amy), Adrienne, Heather (Zach), Michael (Rachel), Timothy Deceased 2008 (Jacqui Wilcox), Rebecca (Brandon) and also 13 Great Grandchildren.
