Marvin Davis Veronee

Marvin Davis Veronee, 94, of Johns Island, South Carolina, passed away on Tuesday August 7, 2018 at the Carter-May Home in Charleston.. His memorial service and burial of ashes will be held Sunday, August 26, 2018 at Camp St. Christopher, Seabrook Island, at 5:00 pm. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR INC., WEST ASHLEY CHAPEL.

Marvin was born October 22, 1923 in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of the late Alvin Ray Veronee and the late Amelia Schirmer Veronee. Although born in Charleston, he was a sea islander from the sandy tips of his toes to the salty ends of his hair, and delighted in growing up on a dairy farm on Johns Island, climbing trees (including the Angel Oak during Sunday School), swimming in Church Creek, exploring the beaches of Kiawah and Seabrook, and reading everything he could get his hands on.

He graduated from high school at 16 and headed to The University of North Carolina to study history. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Marvin joined the Navy, graduated from UNC, and attended Midshipmen's School at The University of Notre Dame before heading off to the Pacific, a 90 day wonder and Lieutenant ready for his first boat.

Marvin served as an officer on the USS Doyen, then was transferred to train as a naval gunfire liaison officer, providing naval gunfire cover to the marines on Iwo Jima. He was on the island throughout the long battle and honored both the Americans and Japanese who fought and lost their lives there.

After the war, he returned to his passion for history and earned an A.M. in history at the University of Chicago. He remained at the University of Chicago for more than 20 years working as an editor and researcher and serving as the Director for the Department of Retirement Studies. He was a beloved volleyball coach at George Williams College, and was inducted into the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Hall of Fame in 2017 for his winning seasons.

Marvin never lost his love for boats and the water. He sailed in Europe and on the Great Lakes until he retired from the University of Chicago at 63. Then he climbed aboard his sloop and sailed home to Johns Island. The trip took more than two months and was his last great sailing adventure.

After his retirement, Marvin wrote and edited eight books, including two about the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was an avid bird watcher and participated each year in Christmas bird counts. For more than ten years he volunteered at the Patriots Point Naval Maritime Museum, and he never missed a Spoleto Festival. His prodigious memory, unstoppable curiosity and joy in talking to people made him a fantastic storyteller and wonderful uncle and friend.

Marvin is survived by two brothers, Alvin R. Veronee, Johns Island SC, and Randolph Veronee, Belgium, seven nieces and nephews, 21 great nieces and nephews, 22 and counting great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Amelia Veronee Bryan and Elizabeth Veronee Haynsworth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be to USS Yorktown, 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464