Marcello was born in Lismore, Australia on April 29, 1935. To family, he was known as Mark; to his colleagues, Mike. He was the second son of Italian immigrant parents (Nella Zanardo & Giovanni Camillo). In 1969, he married his wife, Irene Paris and on June 14, 2021 they celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. Mark and Irene lived all over the world, but for the past 25 years, have made the Cayman Islands their home. Together, they have two daughters and six grandchildren. His love and loyalty to his family was unparalleled.
Second only to his family was his love for the businesses he created.
Marcello was a self-made man. He was a rare mix of street smarts, business savvy, tough love, and a tender heart. His passion for the Camillo businesses and their employees was legendary.
Marcello was a visionary leader who saw what was possible long before others. He was an innovator that trusted his own instincts even when all the industry “experts” said he was wrong. He transformed the entry-level home building sector when he founded Legend Homes in 1991 and today Legend is the largest privately held homebuilding company in Houston.
During the Financial Crisis of 2008, Marcello found a way to not only survive but to thrive. He saw the need for single family rental homes and was the first to build new houses for rent in the country. The booming industry now known as Build-To-Rent was pioneered by Marcello years before anyone else understood the concept. Today, Camillo Properties is the largest Build-To-Rent company in the United States.
Through his business activities, Marcello mentored and helped countless employees over the years. His legacy is far greater than the scale of his companies. It can only truly be measured by the impact he had on the lives that he touched.
Marcello leaves behind his loving wife of 52 years, Irene Camillo of the Cayman Islands; daughters, Lauren Sullivan and her husband Patrick of Houston, Tx, Lara Moynihan and her husband George of Chicago, IL; brother, Rudolph Camillo of Sydney, Australia; grandchildren, Christina and Zach Darby of Houston, TX, GB, Harry, Simon and Carys Moynihan of Chicago, IL.
Marcello was a brilliant, successful, determined, and wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who had the honor and privilege to know him.
A funeral service for Marcello will be held Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home TX. Liberty Chapel, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079.
Serving as pallbearers are George Moynihan, Patrick Sullivan , Harry Moynihan, Zach Darby, Simon Moynihan, Dennis Livotto, Blake Roberts and Chris Trlicek.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marcello’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Houston Methodist West and St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Camillo family.
