MEDWAY – Lt. James F. Popkowski, U.S. Marine Corps, 37, died Thursday, July 8, 2010. He was born Sept. 27, 1972, in Holyoke, Mass., the son of Deabra Deschaine and Frank Popkowski. James was a graduate of Schenck High School, Class of 1990, and had been looking forward to attending his 20th reunion. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps while still in high school and made that his career. James attended Norwich University in Vermont, where he graduated cum laude with an Master in Business Administration degree in computer science. His last active duty assignment was working as a counter intelligence officer for the National Security Agency, working at Fort Meade, Md., and also at the Pentagon. In 2003 he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia – a disease which resulted in his receiving an honorable medical discharge from the Marines with the rank of first lieutenant. James went on to become the longest known survivor of this disease by several years. In addition to his mother of Chicopee, Mass., James is survived by his mom and dad, Nancy and Richard Deschaine of Medway; a daughter, Vianca Popkowski of California; brothers, Mike Majkowski and his wife, Angel, of Medway and Mark Majkowski and his wife, Karen, of Mount Chase; a sister, Kathy Haniffy of Springfield, Mass.; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his grandmother, “memere” Deschaine. Friends are invited to visit with the family 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday at Lamson Funeral Home, 17 Western Ave., East Millinocket. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 58 Cedar St., East Millinocket, with the Rev. Joel Cyr, pastor, presider. Interment with military honors will be at Grindstone Road Cemetery, Medway. Gifts in memory of James may be sent to National Institute of Health, Cancer Unit, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889-5600. Messages of condolence may be expressed at www.lamsonfh.com.
LT. JAMES F. POPKOWSKI, U.S. MARINE CORPS
