Paul Carmine Marino

Paul C. Marino was born March 27, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan, where his grandfather had a car dealership. His parents (Carmine and Paula Jean Marino) were a professional dance team and took him on the road until he turned 6 and education needs dictated, they set down roots, and Jacksonville was a place they had enjoyed on tours. Ultimately, they ran several successful businesses between Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine. Paul graduated from Fletcher Sr. High School in 1957, married Ann Lynn (3 children, 5 grandchildren) and went into the military, stationed in Nigeria and French Indochina, just before it became Vietnam. His brother, Jack, was killed in an airplane crash at Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth, Texas, in 1962. This sad occasion allowed him to get out of Vietnam, transferring to Independent Contract work for the Military in Europe. Extensively trained in languages, dialects, European and North African politics and history at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, he then infiltrated European youth cultures and reported his insights to the U S. Army.

Paul's love of history fueled a degree in History, Geography and Literature from Jacksonville University (where he was an editor of the school paper). Over the course of his non military life, he owned/managed retail stores, tried to break into Hollywood acting, played semi-pro baseball in Puerto Rico, tried his hand at NASCAR driving, acted at Alhambra Dinner Theater, and other local theaters, worked at Mayport Navy Base in transportation for 20 years, painted over 100 original acrylic paintings, wrote two unpublished novels, and had a successful business with Midge, selling used books online.

In 1988 he met Midge, and they married in June of 1989. From this marriage he gained two stepchildren (5 grandchildren) and enjoyed many happy years of family life. He is survived by his three children: Carmine Paul, Patrick and Tina Marino. Grandchildren: Christian, Michael, Paige, Maddison, Shyah, Faith and Camilla. Following years of declining health, due to age, strokes, and dementia, he passed.

A memorial service will be held on June 27, 2025 at 9:00am in H. Warren Smith Cemetery, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.