Mario C. Orrico, age 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 29, 2021 at the Courtyard Gardens Assisted Living Facility in Jupiter, Florida. He was born on November 20, 1926 in Jersey City, NJ to Helen and Giovianni Orrico. Mario was a great husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother and friend. He was blessed with a large happy family of five children, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughter Eileen and her two daughters, Lauren and Tracey; Son John, his wife Brenda and their two sons, Anthony (AJ) and Nicholas; Son Mario, his wife Vicky, their son Michael and his wife Erin and their three boys, Luca, Killian, and Macklin. Their daughter Valerie and her husband Joe and their two daughters, Eleanor and Tessa; Daughter Cathy, her husband Frank and their children Stephen and Jennifer; Daughter Trish, her husband Steve and their two daughters Taylor and Peyton. He is also survived by his brother, Vincent Orrico.
Mario is predeceased by his wife, Catherine, his sister, Theodora, his brothers Frank and Joseph, and his son-in-law, Bill Kenton.
Born in Jersey City, Mario was the middle child of five siblings, Frank, Theodora, Joseph and Vincent. While growing up in Jersey City during the Depression Mario did many jobs to help his family. He was also a great athlete and played basketball and baseball for Dickinson High School. Upon graduating Dickinson High School in 1944, Mario enlisted in the Army. He served his country in both the Pacific and European Theaters during World War II. Mario was a proud veteran and was seldom seen without his WWII hat!
After the War, Mario returned to Jersey City and worked at the Bayonne Navy Base. He needed a date to the Christmas party and decided to ask Catherine whom he knew since childhood growing up in the same neighborhood. That night at the Waldorf Astoria was the start of their beautiful life together. They were married on September 17, 1949.
Mario worked at the Navy Base until he joined the Jersey City Fire Department in 1956. Mario was a proud member of the JCFD for 17 years. While fighting a fire in 1969 he fell through a glass skylight, fell two stories and was injured. Mario remained with the department for a few more years before finally retiring in 1973. Upon retirement from the Fire Department Mario and Catherine moved their family to Boca Raton, Florida where they resided for the next 32 years before moving to Boynton Beach, FL in 2005.
They loved their life together and most importantly their family. They were the happiest when the house was full of their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family, all sitting down to a homemade Italian meal. He and Catherine enjoyed a wonderful 68 years of marriage until her passing in January of 2018.
Mario was always there to help his family and friends in need. There was no favor or task that was too big or that he would say no to. Mario loved family gatherings and would often be found on the dance floor if there were music playing. He also loved the outdoors and spent many days hunting, fishing, swimming and playing golf. He was an excellent golfer and was well known for his skills on the golf course. Mario shot his only hole-in-one at the age of 80! Mario worked at the Boca Raton Municipal Golf course as a ranger and starter for many years during his retirement.
Mario suffered from Dementia for several years and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s upon his death. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to the Alzheimer's Association @ www.alz.org.
A Memorial service for Mario will be held on Sunday, March 7th from 1-4pm at the Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral Home in North Palm Beach, FL. A Funeral Mass for Mario will be held for the family members at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Boynton Beach, FL.
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