Tricia Mary Marcello

Tricia grew up in Inglewood and Culver City, spending memorable summers in Ely, Nevada with her extended family. A timer for the boy’s high school track team, she always wanted to run herself, but came of age at a time when women weren’t encouraged to do so. She made up for that later in life, becoming an avid runner on The Strand and active participant in many Manhattan Beach 10Ks.

Tricia’s first career was at LAX, where, as a ticket agent for American Airlines, she honed her ability to read people, solve complicated problems, and most importantly, develop her sharp sense of humor. One evening after work in 1980, her airline friends met up with some airport-based narcotics agents out celebrating the conclusion of a case. Trica’s friends begged her to come, saying ‘there’s a man here who looks exactly like Cat Stevens.’ That man was John Marcello, who knew Tricia was special as soon as she walked in. She was more skeptical, but agreed to a date. They married four years later, building a life together over 41 years of marriage.

Tricia spent many years working in television production, from movies-of-the-week to live recorded shows like Circus of the Stars. She had frequent adventures in the television industry, especially at Circus, where she met lifelong friends and amassed a near encyclopedic knowledge of classic film and television shows. She loved the creative arts, especially music, and was known to turn up the volume on everything from Tom Waits to The Pointer Sisters, Willy Nelson to Jelly Roll. She was never without a book (often never without two or three), devouring as much writing as she possibly could at what must have been super speed. Her adventurous and curious spirit also came out through her incredible style, which was part bohemian, part vintage steampunk, part something totally and uniquely her. She looked amazing.

As she welcomed her daughter, Molly, into the world, she also welcomed a whole host of new experiences in her life as a parent. She became active in local public school education, serving as PTA president and volunteering with South Bay community organizations like Sandpipers. She adored the friends she made from Molly’s school days, and was a founding member of ‘The Vinegar Hill Ladies Wednesday Night Gin and Poker Society,’ a regular meetup that she would miss only when recovering from surgery.

Tricia is also remembered for creating such a welcoming house in Manhattan Beach that it became a refuge for out-of-town family and friends, who would gather regularly to stay at the beach and eat her homemade dinners and biscotti. A friend affectionately dubbed her the ‘innkeeper of the Marcello B&B,’ and she loved being able to care for people in this way. No one was a stranger in her home, and no one left hungry. A redheaded woman of Welsh English heritage, Tricia mastered (and added to) her mother-in-law’s Italian recipes. Also a very talented baker, Tricia perfected her own biscotti recipes, building a cottage business to the delight of family, friends and neighbors, who knew they could run into her kitchen anytime and grab one or two (or five or six) from the biscotti jar.

In the past decade, Tricia faced many difficult surgeries, mostly related to rheumatoid arthritis and genetic heart issues. She met these often scary situations with a positive resolve, as well as the tools of her Catholic faith and her own personal faith in her doctors and her focus on recovery. She modeled incredible character when facing hard moments, and was typically the first to break the ice with a well-timed, insightful, and often wry comment. She had a special appreciation for friends and family who shared her quick wit and love for dry humor.

Tricia was generous to anyone who needed her ear, acting as a confidant to many. Incredibly emotionally intelligent, Tricia was trusted as someone who could help untangle a difficult decision, lift the fog of uncertainty, or provide a little comfort as a safe harbor. She had a knack for easing burdens through her calming presence, insightful advice, as well as delightfully offbeat presents she would send just because she’s thinking of you. We love and miss her dearly. All the limoncello in the world could never erase the pain of losing her. But, as she would say, it certainly helps.

Tricia is preceded in death by her brother Michael and siblings-in-law David, Patty, and Jackie. She is survived by her husband John, daughter Molly (Jon), brother Richard (Jill), siblings-in-law Jerry, Jim (Leslie), Jane, Pat (Don), Sue (Steve), Jenny (Bob), and her many nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Mass will be held at American Martyrs Catholic Church on Monday, November 10th at 10am, with a reception to follow at O’Donnell Hall.