Paul C. Marchi, 87, of 29 Horseshoe Road, Guilford, died Jan. 23 at Yale-New Haven Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Carlo and Rosa (Cassola) Marchi, he grew up at 51 Willoughby Avenue. He was graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in Brooklyn, New York in January 1942 with high honors.

After beginning a career with Southern New England Telephone Company (SNET) Mr. Marchi earned a bachelor of science from Hillyer College (University of Hartford) in 1952. During his tenure at SNET, Mr. Marchi climbed the corporate ladder from cable splicer’s helper to the executive position of division manager in charge of buildings, motor vehicles, and supplies.

Mr. Marchi served on Gov. Thomas Meskill’s Connecticut Energy Emergency Agency during the severe energy crisis in 1973. At the same time, he decreased energy consumption at SNET’s facilities and decreased gasoline consumption by instituting highway speed limits and reducing the size of vehicles operating within the SNET fleet. He retired from SNET in 1984 after 41½ years of service.

During Mr. Marchi’s retirement years, he continued his hobbies of furniture making, model aircraft building, quilting, and traveling to Elderhostel events along the East Coast and in Europe.

Mr. Marchi also spent 10 years as a volunteer coordinator for the AARP/IRS Tax Aide Program in Branford, East Haven, and Morris Cove and served on the board of directors of the Branford Interfaith Housing Corporation, the latter of which constructed 29 low-income rental housing units on Elm Street in Branford.

Mr. Marchi is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Georgette (Pershken) Marchi, originally of New Britain; two sons, Carlo P. Marchi of Newington and Jason J. Marchi of New Haven; two grandchildren, Leila (Marchi) Brown of Manchester and Paul Henry Marchi of Newington; and a sister, Emily (Marchi) Crinklaw of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association or the Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Guilford Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.