Memorial service for Deschaine on Saturday

A memorial service hosted by a Washington, D.C. city council member will be held Saturday in the nation’s capital to honor Desi Deschaine, a Bristol native who drowned last summer in a boating accident.
Deschaine, 30, made such a mark in politics in Washington that the Gertrude Stein Democrat Club recently found a way to perpetuate his memory with the creation of the Desi Deschaine Young Democrat of the Year Award to honor young activists who share his infectious enthusiasm and energy.
The District of Columbia’s city council approved a resolution for presentation at Saturday’s service taking note of Deschaine’s activism in everything from gay rights to presidential politics.
The resolution called Deschaine, a 1997 Bristol Eastern High School graduate, “an active and proud member of the gay community” in Washington who “became an activist Democrat in the year that George W. Bush declared that gays and lesbians would not legally have the same marital rights as straight couples.”
“Desi was truly a special person,” said J’aime Huret, his boyfriend at the time of his death.
Huret said that Deschaine’s friends are looking forward to “remembering his good spirit and good works” during Saturday’s memorial service at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Washington.
The service is sponsored by Jack Evans, a council member who employed Deschaine as his communications director.
Sally Albright, a friend of Deschaine’s, said he was “known for his enthusiasm and charm, Desi could coax people into anything. He was a social creature with ties to many D.C. communities.”
Deschaine drowned in Baltimore harbor after vanishing from a marina sometime after 10:30 p.m. on July 12. His body was found, fully clothed, the next morning.
In high school in Bristol, Deschaine was active in politics locally, though at the time he was involved with GOP candidates.
After leaving Bristol, he attended Catholic University, where he graduated in 2001 with a degree in international politics.
Deschaine worked on several campaigns and in a number of jobs, including head of external relations for the Washington Opera.
He was on the national committee for the Young Democrats, a member of the Democratic State Committee in Washington, vice president of the Logan Circle Community Association and much more.

For details about the service, including its location, click on this link.

Here's the full text of the resolution passed by the District of Columbia council:

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To posthumously recognize and honor the life of Desi Philip Deschaine.

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine was born on January 27, 1979 in Bristol, Connecticut, son of Philip and Linda (Chartier) Deschaine;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine attended Bristol Public Schools, graduating from Bristol Eastern High School in 1997;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine was inspired to a life of service when he was a teenager, not only volunteering in Guatemala to assist poor and homeless children but serving in a local youth organization in his home state of Connecticut, where as a reward for their efforts were invited to meet the then Governor of Connecticut;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine, upon graduating from the Catholic University of America in 2001 with a degree in political science and committed his life to serve his new home, the District of Columbia;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine, an active and proud member of the gay community, became an activist Democrat in the year that George W. Bush declared that gays and lesbians would not legally have the same marital rights as straight couples;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine served many local civic organizations, including the DC Ward 2 Democrats, the Logan Circle Community Association, St. Mary’s Court Senior Resident Center and the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine has been in politics and a strong supporter of the Democratic Party -- working on several national campaigns, including presidential candidates: John Kerry, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine worked tirelessly on several local campaigns, including: The Honorable Anthony A. Williams, The Honorable Linda W. Cropp, The Honorable Jack Evans, The Honorable Kwame R. Brown, The Honorable Michael A. Brown, The Honorable Mary M. Cheh, The Honorable Muriel Bowser, and The Honorable Yvette M. Alexander;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine was a devoted civil servant to the residents of the District of Columbia -- working as the Director of Communications for Councilmember Jack Evans [D-Ward 2], Community Affairs Coordinator in the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs under Mayor Anthony A. Williams, and served in the Office of the Director, DC Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs under Mayor Adrian M. Fenty;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine was posthumously honored and remembered by the District of Columbia Young Democrats and The Mid-Atlantic Region of the Young Democrats of America at the National Committee on August 8, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine was posthumously honored and remembered by the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club on October 29, 2009 in Washington, DC at the Women's National Democratic Club;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine loved the quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” by Margaret Mead;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine is truly deserving of special recognition and admiration for his commitment and dedication to the citizens of the District of Columbia;

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine left an imprint on everyone he met through his infectious smile and laughter; and

WHEREAS, Desi Philip Deschaine is survived by his devoted and loving parents, Phil and Linda (Chartier), sister, Desiree, paternal grandmother, Eva Deschaine, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Desi was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Emile Deschaine, and his maternal grandparents, George and Mamie Cartier.

RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Desi Philip Deschaine Posthumous Recognition Resolution of 2009”.

Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia posthumously honors, remembers, and recognizes Desi Philip Deschaine for his distinguished service to the residents of the District of Columbia.

Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia register.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com