Obituary: Edward R. Mariano

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Edward R. Mariano
Edward R. Mariano

NAUGATUCK — Edward R. Mariano, 88, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Dorothy (Zehnder) Mariano.

Mr. Mariano was born on Nov. 13, 1924 in Naugatuck, the son of the late Rocco Mariano and Nellie (Nardello) Mariano. He attended Naugatuck schools, Arnold College, and the University of Bridgeport. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy where he served as a gunner’s mate. He worked in the Naugatuck school system as a physical education teacher in various elementary schools and the middle school, he was head basketball coach at NHS for 13 years, and finished his career as the first principal of Andrew Avenue Elementary School.

Besides his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his sons, Peter, his wife Tracy and daughter Julia of Naugatuck, Chris, his wife Thea and sons Nicholas, David and Jordan of New Jersey, Mark, his wife Lori and sons Adam, Markus, Jonathan, Sean, Joshua, and Grayling Bernier of New Hampshire, and David, his wife Eileen and sons John, Michael, Daniel, and Kevin of Naugatuck. He is also survived by two daughters, Andrea Raff and her husband Howard of Plainville and Alison Noss and her husband Mark, and their children Veronica and Spencer of Naugatuck. He was predeceased by his sister, Marjorie Creddo.

Among many of Ed’s honors include being inducted into the Naugatuck Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Football Officials Hall of Fame, the Connecticut High School Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Waterbury Sportsmen’s Club Hall of Fame. His numerous awards consist of the Junior Chamber of Commerce award for community service, the Raymond K. Foley award, the Exchange Club Gold Medal award, the college baseball award, the Vin Reilly award, and was a Gold Whistle award finalist. He was honored by the ECAC for outstanding contributions to baseball, served as Italian Mayor for the day, and in 2005, he had the ultimate honor of having the NHS gymnasium named after him.

An all-around athlete, he was captain of his basketball, baseball and football teams in high school. In his adult life, he was an exceptional baseball umpire having umpired in the Cape Cod baseball league for 10 years as well as umpiring a college world series in Omaha, Neb., he was a co-founder of the YMCA Little Pal basketball league, he was instrumental in organizing the playground program in town and was honored in a King for a Day parade in 1971. He was the founder of the Western Connecticut Football Officials Association of which he was an active football official for over 40 years. He served on numerous committees including the St. Francis Church Parish Council, and was a member of the American Legion Post 17.

The family would like to thank the Waterbury VNA-Hospice Care as well as Dr. Bowen and the staff at the Harold Leever Cancer Center. Ed was never one to give up. “You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness.” 2 Timothy 4:7.

The funeral will be held on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck at 11 a.m. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will be in St. James Cemetery. Friends may call at the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 26 Waterbury Road, Prospect on Thursday evening from 4 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Edward R Mariano Scholarship Fund, c/o Naugatuck Savings Bank, 87 Church St., Naugatuck, CT 06770.

To place online condolences, visit www.buckmillerbrothers.com.