Alexander Marsden, 86

May 8, 2019

Alexander Marsden, 86, of Rochester, died Monday, May 6, at Alden Court Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fairhaven. He was the husband of Doris B. (McMahon) Marsden and was happily married for 58 years.

Born in Newcastle, England, he was the son of the late Alexander and Dorothy (Kelly) Marsden.

Growing up as a boy during the war in England, he had a unique and adventuresome childhood. Before he came to the United States, Mr. Marsden served as a paratrooper in the Royal Air Force. He completed more than 75 jumps and was stationed in the Suez Canal and Cyprus.

After his arrival in the U.S. in 1968, Mr. Marsden worked as a typesetter and eventually owned and operated his own business, AJ Typesetting in Holliston. After retirement, he moved to Marstons Mills, where along with his wife Doris, owned and operated the Village Café on Main Street in Falmouth.

In 2011, he and his wife moved to Rochester.

Mr. Marsden was a member of the Gleason Family YMCA in Wareham where he enjoyed exercising and spin class with his spin friends well into his eighties. He was an avid hockey fan, and for someone that never played hockey, he had a great understanding of the game.

He was a man that enjoyed “a couple of pops” and good company. Mostly, he enjoyed his family and grandchildren. Whether attending sporting events, theatre performances, or building playhouses, he took great pride in his grandchildren’s lives and accomplishments.

Survivors include his wife, Doris of Rochester; his daughter Jacqueline Arsenault and her husband Patrick of Plymouth; his son, Alex Marsden and his wife Beth of Marion; his sister, Patricia Edwards of Cumbria, England; and grandchildren, Brett, Ryan and Meaghan Arsenault, and Kate and Alec Marsden.

Private graveside services were held in Old Landing Cemetery in Marion. Donations in his memory may be made to Damien’s Pantry, P.O. Box 111 in Fairhaven.

Arrangements were made by Chapman, Cole Gleason Funeral Home in Wareham.