Obituary for Anthony Marino, WWII Veteran

Anthony “Tony” Marino, a renowned Westport artist and decorated World War II veteran, died at home on Sunday, Jan. 23. He was 87 and battling Parkinson’s disease.

Anthony Albert Marino was born Jan. 7, 1924, in Washington, Pa., and graduated from Washington High School. He played hometown baseball and was recruited by hall of famer Honus Wagner to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but declined because his father saw no future in it.

At age 18, he joined the U.S. Army and trained as a paratrooper with the 11^th Airborne Division. He served in World War II in the Pacific from 1942-1946, surviving combat in New Guinea and the Philippines followed by service in occupied Japan. His unit participated in the raid at Los Banos, Philippines, liberating 2,147 prisoners of the Allied civilian internment camp on Feb. 23, 1945. He was wounded and awarded many medals, but regretfully never received his Purple Heart.

After the war, he attended the Ad Art Institute of Pittsburgh on the GI Bill, then worked as a men’s fashion illustrator at Joseph Horne Co. of Pittsburgh, where he met his future wife, Nina Barton.

In 1954, he followed Nina to New York and they married at the “Little Church around the Corner” on East 29th St. on Oct. 1, 1955. They moved to Westport in 1959 and raised three children and many pets.

Tony worked for over 20 years as a fashion illustrator for New York department stores and as a local artist painting watercolor landscapes and Westport scenery, many of which won awards at area art shows.

He volunteered for many years as a coach for the Westport Little League, several of whose former players stopped back to see him in recent years to thank him for the impact he had on their lives. He loved coaching baseball, watching baseball, fishing, eating good food, drinking good wine, telling stories and spending time with family and friends.

He introduced Westport to the Yankee Jumper, a homemade snow-sliding contraption on which the rider races downhill balanced on a seat above a single ski and which he enjoyed showing off on into his 80s.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 399 in Westport and the 11^th Airborne Division Association and was often photographed as the only veteran in full World War II paratrooper uniform to march in the annual Westport Memorial Day parades.

He is survived by his wife, Nina Marino of Westport; his children, Nancy Marino of Norwalk, Robert (and Janet) Marino of Pulaski, NY, and Jenny (and John) Bryans of Shamong, NJ. Also surviving him are two grandchildren, Leonardo and Lydia Marino of Pulaski, and his sister, Adeline Livingston of Washington, Pa. He was predeceased by his brother, Jeano Francis Marino, who died on Jan. 23, 1950, at age 28 and who he dearly missed.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Zion Hill United Methodist Church, 470 Danbury Road, Wilton. Contributions in Tony’s memory may be made to the Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, Westport, CT, 06880.

Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Rd. East, Westport, is helping with arrangements. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may visit www.hardingfuneral.com. Tony’s family wishes to thank all their friends for the love and support they gave during his last weeks.