Nicholas John Marino passed away peacefully on January 29, 2025.
He was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania to Santo and Kay Marino, who shortly after his birth, moved the family to Milwaukee. After settling in Milwaukee, younger brother Ronnie joined the family.
Nick moved to his beloved Milwaukee East Side and attended St. Peter and Paul and Messmer High School before taking classes at MATC. He proudly served in the Army National Guard. He worked hard at his career, ultimately becoming Director of Sales for Wirtz Beverages.
But he’d want us to get on from the particulars and get to the good stuff: his family and friends.
In an odd twist of fate, Nick and his future bride Kathy lived on the same block on Downer Ave. The street held significance for the couple who later had their first date there, seeing “West Side Story” at the Downer Theater when Nick’s girlfriend was (luckily) in California for the summer. They started dating a few years later after a chance encounter at The Red Barn burger joint on Oakland Ave. Wedding bells rang out in 1968 and in 1970, they welcomed Mary Angela. In quick succession, Peter and Amy joined the family. And…not as quickly…Michael.
Nick was a loving husband for 56 years, and an expert errands driver in his Buick station wagon going on many, many trips to (and back again from) Sendik’s, his weekly run to Sciortino’s or Glorioso’s and countless kid pickups and drop offs. As his family grew, Nick loved being “Poppa” to his grandkids and was so proud of each one.
Perhaps due to his career, Nick was known as the best bartender around, famed for the Bloody Marys he served at the Whitefish Bay Fourth of July parade. He loved sharing that Bloody Mary or a dry gin martini with three olives and a good meal with his friends, The Rude Dogs. What started as a baseball team grew into decades-long friendships that included vacations to Florida, golf trips, weekly card games and countless dinners. The life of any party, Nick was our Don Rickles. Able to make friends with anyone from the Maitre D to a gas station attendant or with the head coach of a football team, he loved making people laugh. When his baby blues got that twinkle, you knew you were in for a zinger.
Nick was a crooner and lover of music, especially Doo Wop and The Rat Pack. He thought there was no better spot on earth than in a lawn chair in the garage smoking a cigar, grilling up something delicious for dinner and watching Brewers or Badgers games. He also was a man of many opinions–how many “stunads” were on the road, how thin a pizza crust should be, that anchovy, mushroom and onion is the best pizza topping, every play in the Packers game and that the Holy Family Spaghetti Dinner was never run as well after he and Don stopped doing it (until Chrisopher Bartolone took over, that is).
Nick is survived by Kathy and his children Mary Angela, Peter (Jennifer Marino), Amy (Amin Afsari) and Michael. He will be remembered lovingly by his grandchildren Megahn Brophy, Katie Brophy, Max Marino, Sofia Marino, Lily Marino, Charlie Afsari and Isabelle Afsari.
Visitation will be held at St. Monica Parish, 5601 North Santa Monica Boulevard, Whitefish Bay on Tuesday, February 4th from 10-11:30 a.m. Mass will start at 11:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Monica’s, Three Holy Women or Kinship Community Food Center.
