The MarQuez Family

A ‘chance encounter’ led to foster parents meeting

And what was it that attracted her to her future husband? Smiling at her husband at their home in Hamden during an interview several weeks ago, Ec’sha said, “It was the uniform that snuck up on me.” 

Today, Orlando is a supervisor at United Aluminum, where he’s worked for the past 21 years. Meanwhile, Ec’sha keeps busy taking care of the family, which includes two biological children, Orlando Jr., 18, a freshman at Southern CT State University, and Israel, who turns 16 on Feb. 21, and is a sophomore at Hamden High School. 

The 2007 Boys & Girls Village Foster Parents of the Year also have a house full of younger therapeutic foster and adopted children – caring for a grand total of 10 children to date since signing on with the agency in 1999, the year they accepted their first therapeutic foster child placement. 

“My Mom did foster parenting when I was a child,” Ec’sha explained. “We found out about Boys & Girls Village from a pastor who was also a foster parent.” 

Since going through the comprehensive training and extensive screening process that all prospective foster parents undergo, the family has welcomed a host of at-risk children since 1999. 

And the household of seven currently will soon grow to nine members in all. Including the biological family of four, there are two adopted children, one current foster child and 11-year-old twin boys who will be returning to the MarQuez household after a brief absence. 

How does the MarQuez family handle the needs of so many individuals? “First,” Ec’sha said, “we couldn’t do it without the encouragement of our sons. I am very proud of my sons. They have pushed us to continue with this and are very unselfish themselves.” 

Orlando, Jr., a former Hamden High football standout, said simply, “I don’t mind at all. It’s fun.” As for Israel, he said, “I enjoy it.” 

Meanwhile, Orlando, Sr., nodded his head in agreement, and added that having so many youngsters in the house “keeps me young, too,” although he conceded that it can get a little bit hectic and noisy at times. 

Ec’sha, also known as “Big Mama” and “Hot Wing Mama” to her foster children in recognition of a favorite food treat, agreed. She said that the most important thing for her was “to do what is right” for the children. “We work hard at being good therapeutic foster parents. Mentoring is so important for these children.” 

As for those therapeutic foster children who have come and gone, she added that “some call constantly. We try to keep in touch.” 

As for taking on such a big household at this time, she noted, “I like for each child to have a personal playmate. So, by my way of thinking, we could even take more children on.” She added that it would be nice to have an SUV to transport all that precious cargo around town, too. “It would be nice to ride together as a family without renting a van or driving a second car.” 

In nominating the MarQuez family, it was stated by their Boys & Girls Village case worker, “Ec’sha and Orlando are strong advocates for the children they serve.  They are able to appropriately nurture and they provide a great deal of structure for the children in their home.  They include the foster children on family vacations and have put forth great efforts toward making the foster children feel like a part of their family.” 

Tonight, we all salute Ec’sha, Orlando Sr., Orlando Jr. and Israel for helping Boys & Girls Village fulfill their mission and motto to make a difference in the lives of at-risk children. 

Congratulations to everyone in the MarQuez family for a job well done!