Marianne Melczalk Googins

BIDDEFORD – Marianne Melczalk Googins led an exciting, eventful life. She was born and grew up in Wilmington, Del., graduating from Ursuline Academy and Becom College. She met her future husband, Bruce Googins during a social event at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. They were married after Bruce’s graduation in 1962.

Her new life began in San Diego, Calif. where Marianne was introduced to the rigors of being a “Navy Wife”. Over the next four years Marianne established and ran a household while her husband went to sea for extended shipboard deployments. During this time Marianne gave birth to two children and experienced the unique pleasures of Quonset Hut living during a temporary relocation to San Francisco, Calif. when one of the ships underwent a three-month overhaul.

The next step was a move to Monterey, Calif. Over the next three years while her husband was attending the Navy’s Postgraduate School, Marianne combined her domestic duties with participation in charitable events. This included establishing and running an annual art show incorporating the works of local artists for the benefit of the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society.

In 1969 it was time to move again. This time it was a cross-country trip to Newport, R.I. This meant purchasing, furnishing and moving into their first house purchase and another stint of running a household while her husband went back to sea. Three years later it was a return to shore duty and a move to Turnersville, N.J., a suburb of Philadelphia.

While her husband commuted to duties at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Marianne reestablished her dominion over the home front and volunteered at the local school helping to provide tutorial services to children experiencing reading difficulties.

Two years later her “Navy Wife” skills were put to the test once again. As Bruce headed to the Indian Ocean to join his next ship, Marianne sold the house in New Jersey, packed up and shipped the clothes and furniture, put the children (and a large dog) into the family car and moved them all to their new homeport, Charleston, S.C. Once there she placed the children in school and set up housekeeping in quarters located on the Charleston Naval Base. Once settled in, she found time and energy to undertake part time consulting work with a furniture manufacturer located in North Carolina.

Her final Navy move took place in 1976 when her husband was assigned to the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. This move involved another house purchase and the usual activities of resettling the family. During the next four years, as the children entered high school and then began their college experiences she formed her own company, Classic Interiors Inc. Between consulting with local furniture stores on home designs and maintaining a functioning household she became interested in national politics and joined the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan. After the election of 1980 she accepted an offer to join the Office of the President Elect and subsequently moved into the White House as the Administrative Assistant to Dr. Annelise Anderson, Associate Director of Economic Affairs.

1983 was a busy year. When her husband retired from the Navy and joined an engineering consulting firm, Marianne decided to leave the White House to accept an offer from Muss and Associates, a property management company. These two changes were accompanied with a move to a new house in Annapolis, Md.

After six years of commuting and the business travel, Marianne decided she would take a chance to strike out on her own. In 1989 she purchased E/T Design Associates, renamed it Yacht Interiors of Annapolis Inc. and began the business of renovating Yachts. Her energy, management skills and a passion for perfection combined to make to make her new business successful. Yacht Interiors became the “the” place to go for boat renovation in Annapolis, Md.

After 13 years of hard work, Marianne decided it was time for another change. She decided to sell the business. Having previously vacationed in Italy, Marianne and her husband proceeded to acquire a property and begin a retirement life in Cortona, Italy; a town that had been the focal point of many visits. It did not take long for Marianne to become fully integrated in her new environment. A busy social life ensued that included her participation in the planning and the operation of the Tuscan Sun Festival, an annual event that drew world class musicians, composers, opera stars and ballet companies for a two-week period each summer. Marianne also found time for extensive travel both inside Italy and throughout the rest of Europe. The idyllic lifestyle came to an end, however as Marianne began experiencing mobility issues. It was time to find a final home and return permanently to the United States.

The final landing spot was a house in Biddeford overlooking the ocean. It was located once again in an area that had accommodated many previous vacations during her early married life and was close to family and friends. Over the next few years her illnesses robbed her of her physical vitality but were never able to make a dent in her joy for life. On Oct. 13, 2025, she finally succumbed.

She leaves behind fond memories of her indomitable spirit and her gift of love that will be treasured by her many friends in addition to her family of husband, Bruce Googins; her daughter, Linda Googins of Lafayette, Calif., and son, Keith P. Googins of Washington, D.C.

Dennett, Craig and Pate Funeral Home, Saco is entrusted with her arrangements.