Vincent E. Marini Sr.

When Vince Marini was deciding what to inscribe on the memorial plaque where Joan Rose, his recently deceased wife of 71 years was to be inurned, he chose “I Will Find You.” His quest began on Aug. 21, 2024, when, at 93 and at home surrounded by family, he departed this life for one beyond.

The man affectionally known as Dad, Gee, Grandpa and Pop-Pop, never recovered from the heart surgery he had in July.

Vincent E. Marini was born Nov. 17, 1930, in the New York City borough of The Bronx (he often bragged it was the only borough with an article preceding its name). A self-described “left-handed Scorpio,” he was born when his parents, Ernest and Amelia, were 44 years old. Dad’s childhood in the “Little Italy” section of the Bronx was more Bowery Boys than bucolic and he spent many hours hanging out with his buddies playing pool at Jerry’s Candy Store and cutting school to see movies and live stage shows at the Paramount Theatre in Manhattan.

Later, after being promoted to assistant production manager at the Bozell & Jacobs advertising agency, Vince was drafted into the United States Army. Before landing in Korea, where he was posted with the 555 Field Artillery Battalion (known as the Triple Nickel), he married his high school sweetheart, the “green-eyed beauty” Joan Rose Buttitta. They were together 71 years until her death in 2023.

Most of Dad’s career was in promotion and advertising sales, primarily for magazines. He worked with legendary editors Arnold Gingrich and Clay Felker and was advertising sales manager during Esquire Magazine’s glory days. But perhaps Vince’s favorite professional accomplishment occurred in 1959 when he conceived and planned a barbecue cookout in Rockefeller Plaza to promote American Home Magazine's Best Home for the Money Award. The event was such a success, New Yorker magazine published a Talk of the Town item in its July 4, 1959 issue. A framed copy of the story hung in Dad’s home office for years.

After retiring, Dad and Mom moved to Boynton Beach, Florida, where they found what they called their “Florida family,” a close circle of friends who have all grown older together. Dad loved them all and valued their friendship immensely.

But Dad wasn’t finished. At 80, he sat down to write a memoir titled “Mail Call: A Soldier’s Worst Nightmare & Recall: The Rest of My Story” in which he recounted his childhood, his time in the military and the rich life he led in the years afterward.

But Vincent’s proudest accomplishment, one he never stopped bragging about, was his family. Vincent was predeceased by his beloved wife Joan and survived by his three children, Vincent Marini Jr. of Tampa, Richard Marini (Cynthia) of San Antonio, Texas, and Lynn Clifford (Kevin) of Nesconset New York; grandchildren Matthew Marini (Moira Spezzi) of Sayreville, New Jersey, Amelia Marini (Paul McCullough) of Atascadero, California, Candice Clifford of Nesconset, Joseph Clifford (Jennifer) of Norwalk, Connecticut, and Adele McCartney (Michael) of San Antonio; and great-grandchildren Aurora, Jack, Max and Carmen.

It’s difficult for those who knew and loved Dad to reconcile with the fact that this larger-than-life personality is no longer with us. But we take comfort that he has completed his vow and found Mom.

A Catholic memorial mass will be held for Vincent on Monday September 16th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church Boynton, 10935 S Military Trl, Boynton Beach, FL 33436. The inurnment of ashes will follow at 12:30pm at the South Florida National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be directed to either Southeast Florida Honor Flights, PO Box 1503, Stuart, Florida, 34995, https://honorflightsefl.org or Trustbridge Hospice Care, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407, https://trustbridge.com.