David J. Marujo, 57, systems director for The Standard-Times, died peacefully Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at his home with family and close friends at his side, after being diagnosed with kidney cancer in November. He was the husband of Donna L. (DeTerra) Marujo.
Born in Acushnet and raised in Fairhaven, Mr. Marujo was the son of Alice (Mareiro) Marujo of Fairhaven and the late Joseph Marujo. He lived in Mattapoisett for most of his life.
He was a graduate of Fairhaven High School.
Mr. Marujo had worked at the newspaper for 35 years. He started in the composing department in June 1966 and worked there until he was laid-off in April 1974 when the newspaper converted from hot lead to offset.
He returned to The Standard-Times in March 1978 and remained there until his death. He became the newspaper's computer systems manager in 1995 when The Standard-Times moved to Elm Street.
Jim Knox, the newspaper's operations director, said it didn't matter if the computer problem occurred day or night -- he could always count on his friend to fix it. "David was a 24/7 kind of guy," Mr. Knox said. "No matter what the problem, he would drop what he was doing and help you. "Everyone here depended on David to fix their (computer) problems," he said.
Mr. Marujo was well-known for his pleasant personality around the newspaper. "You know the old saying, 'There are no stupid questions'? For David, there were no stupid problems," Mr. Knox said.
A department head at The Standard-Times, Mr. Marujo was a member of its senior management team. He was also a member of the newspaper's Quarter Century Club.
He enjoyed playing golf with family members and helping other people.
He is survived by his widow; his mother; two sons, David J. Marujo Jr. and his wife, Melanie, of Acushnet and Michael Baldwin and his wife, Sharon, of Rochester; a daughter, Kimberly Semedo and her husband, John, of Mansfield; a brother, Joseph Marujo Jr. and his wife, Renee, of Tallahassee, Fla.; a sister, Kathleen McHenry and her husband, James, of Fairhaven; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Service will be held on Friday August 26, 2005 at 10 AM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Visiting hours will be on Thursday August 25, 2005 from 5-8 PM. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery.