Beloved patriarch, proud Navy veteran, long-time volunteer

Devoted husband, beloved patriarch, proud Navy veteran, long-time volunteer, and Claremont Police Department aide Anthony Joseph Marino died peacefully at home in Florida on January 30 after a four year battle with lung cancer.

Anthony “Tony” Joseph Marino was born in Columbus, Ohio July 13, 1938, to Italian working class immigrants. Born into adversity, he lost his mother when he was 7, and sadly, never knew his father.

He joined the United States Navy at age 17 and quickly met his wife of 68 years, Barbara, in San Francisco in 1956.

After many moves in their young lives and a lot of challenges, they eventually settled in Claremont, where they lived happily for 42 years.

Claremont is where Tony thrived and truly found a sense of community. He eventually became involved with many organizations and events in Claremont throughout the years.

In 2020, he and Barbara moved to South Florida to live close to their two daughters. There he received his life-extending treatment at Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton.

A devout Catholic, he served his parish community, Claremont’s Our Lady of the Assumption, for many years in various capacities and developed lifelong friendships with his fellow parishioners.

In addition to volunteering at OLA, he lived a life in service to his Claremont community serving as a Meals on Wheels volunteer, a CERT volunteer, and a police volunteer.

“After retiring from a long career as a truck driver for Sysco foods, he worked as a police aide for the Claremont Police Department where he won the hearts of all with his strong work ethic,” his family shared.

Outside of his work, volunteer, and family life, he loved to play golf, travel, host barbeques, listen to Frank Sinatra, and to take long walks.

“Tony approached everything in life with a great love for God and humanity, and always greeted everyone, even strangers with a warm, genuine smile,” his family added. “Of all his roles in his beautiful life, being a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather was what he treasured the most. He loved his family with all of his heart and being.”

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; son, Michael; daughter, Antoinette and husband Peter; daughter, Kathleen and husband Jonathan; granddaughter, Kristen and husband Spencer; grandson, Justin and wife Tracy; grandson, Dylan; great-grandchildren, Brayden, Cayson, Sofia, and Jax; brother, Wayne Coakley and family; nephew, Tony Moreno; and niece, Teri Snyder.

“He is dearly missed by all, but he leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, kindness, service, and faith that will never be forgotten,” his family said.

His life was celebrated with a funeral mass on February 28 at St. Rita Catholic Church in Wellington, Florida, followed by a committal ceremony with military honors at South Florida National Cemetery in Wellington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation in his memory be made to either the MorseLife Foundation at morselifefoundation.org/donate, or The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation at donate.brrh.com/make-a-donation.