Martin "MartMan" Anthony Vicari Jr.

The family will receive friends and family from 6pm-8pm on Thursday, July 5, 2018 at Blount and Curry Funeral Home – Carrollwood Chapel. Funeral Mass will be held at 10am on Friday, July 6th at Incarnation Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Myrtle Hill Memorial Park. Following the burial, everyone is invited to attend a luncheon and visit with the family at Blount and Curry Funeral Home – Carrollwood Chapel.

Marty was born at St. James Hospital in Newark, NJ to Matteo and Mary Vicari on May 2nd, 1944. He grew up in Nutley where he attended Weequahic High School, graduating in 1962. He was voted by his classmates as most likely to “always have a girl”. (Jokes on him. He had two daughters!) He also graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Engineering.

Marty served in the U.S. Army where he attended basic training at Ft. Jackson SC. He worked for Marley Cooling Tower Company in New York City, where, on an elevator, he met Gretel Larena. Their first date, that he was 2 hours late for, was to the circus. Despite that, on September 18, 1971, they got married in Brewster, NY.

In 1973, Marley sent them for a visit down to Miami and they fell in love with the state. Marty mentioned that he would love the opportunity to work down there some day. The company told him they did not have anything near Miami but they were looking for someone in Tampa. Marty’s response? “Great! Where’s Tampa?” They arrived during the city’s annual Gasparilla festival that Marty thought was a welcome parade for him! Over the course of the next 45 years, Marty and Gretel had and raised two daughters and built a great family and life together.

Marty was a fan of many things in his life. He loved golf, fishing, skiing and sports. Always following his beloved New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and of course, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was one of the few remaining original season ticket holders for the Buccaneers. He liked to gripe about them as much as anyone, but he was loyal to the end.

Towards the end of his life, he frequently commented on how lucky he felt to have been able to see and do the things he did. He got to attend the championship game for nearly every major sport. He was blessed enough to have traveled the country and the world. Experiencing many sights, sounds, and tastes along the way. He was a lover of good food (but none more so than his wife’s cooking) and a good cigar. But loved a good story even more! Especially if it got him a laugh or an expression of shock. His greatest love, however, was his family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Gretel. His daughters, Michelle (Jeremy) Birket, and Marianne Vicari. Plus, a large extended family and multitudes of friends who were like family.

MartMan, as he was affectionately known to his friends, was larger than life at times. The void his gregarious personality leaves will be felt for some time by all that knew and loved him.

The family would like to express their sincerest thanks at all who have reached out to them over the past week. The love and support they feel makes this most difficult of times somewhat easier to bear.