FCAM Officer and members extend sympathies to Chief Marino and his family, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
https://www.chapmanfuneral.com/obituaries/Joseph-R-Marino?obId=48423967
Joseph R. Marino Obituary
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On May 14, 2026, Mr. Joseph Robert “Joe” Marino of Mashpee (formerly of Wrentham) passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the love of his family, exactly as he had wished. He was 84 years old.
Joe’s long and remarkable journey began in Boston, where he was born to the late Vincent Lanovara and Ida Austin Taylor. His birth name was Robert Joseph Taylor and at the age of two was adopted and provided a loving home by his parents Joseph and Rosina (Grassa) Marino. He grew up in Milton and graduated from Milton High School, Class of 1959. His life found its center when he married the love of his life, Carmela K. “Carmen” (DiTullio) Marino. Together they shared 63 years of marriage and built a home filled with love, laughter, and an open door in Wrentham, where they raised their four sons and welcomed countless others into their hearts and home.
Joe leaves behind his beloved wife Carmen and his four sons: Joseph Marino and his wife Beverly of Franklin; Vincent Marino and his partner Maureen, of Wrentham; Antonio Marino and his wife Tracy of Bellingham; and Jason Marino and his wife Amy of Millville. He was predeceased by his parents; his siblings, Joanna (lanovara) Correnti, William Taylor, Elizabeth (Taylor) “Anne” Newbery; his daughter-in-law, Kathleen (Carey) Marino; and his beloved grandchildren Adam and Ashley Mahoney; and his best friend and eating accomplice Ray Welsh and Ray’s beloved wife Eleanor.
He is survived by his loving siblings Elisabeth Cook and her husband Marshall of Martha’s Vineyard, Marylou Tolgensbakk of Florida, His loving Brother Vincent Lanovara and partner Linda of Maine. He is also survived by his amazing grandchildren Niki, Ryan, Dory, Jake, Tricia, Lena, Izzy, Tullio, Steve, Chris, Adrian, Khristian, Eric, Jesse, Emma, Annie, Steven,Theresa, Nickonio, Miss Jessi, Josholio, and Miss Alex, along with several cherished great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and countless others who proudly called him “Grampa Joe,” “Dad,” or simply “Joe”.
Joe’s family extended far beyond bloodlines. He was a father, mentor, and role model to many who looked to him for love, guidance, and strength, including Kenny and Carol, Margie and Dickie, Ann Marie, Karen, Patrice, Mary, Pat, Kyle, Joanne, Katherine, Moe and many others throughout his life. He had a gift for making people feel they belonged, and if you came through Joe and Carmen’s door long enough, eventually you simply became family.
Joe raised his sons by example, teaching them to be honest, hardworking, tough when necessary, and caring above all else. He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic, owned “Joe’s Sunoco”, tended bar with Betty at the “Shamrock” and later moved into burner repair with Benny’s Oil before building his own successful businesses, J. Marino and Sons and Marino Oil. Following a major health issue and the sale of his businesses, he retired briefly in 1993, but retirement never suited Joe. After relocating to Cape Cod and settling in Mashpee, he returned to work at Southport, helping the builder and the association or, as he liked to say, affectionately, “helping old people.” He continued doing what he loved until the end of his time. Joe also became something of an institution within the Southport community, serving as its unofficial aficionado. He knew everyone, knew every story, always had a project to tackle, a helping hand to offer, or advice to give, and he formed friendships that made Southport feel like an extension of his family.
Joe possessed a servant’s heart and devoted countless hours to helping others. Through organizations including Samaritans of Cape Cod and Kiwanis, where he eventually served as Lieutenant Governor for the Cape division and helped establish the Mashpee Kiwanis Charitable Foundation, Joe quietly changed lives. Yet his greatest acts of kindness were often the ones nobody knew about — helping veterans, assisting people with disabilities, lending a hand to neighbors, or simply being there when someone was struggling.
He loved animals, especially horses and dogs, and treasured the rare opportunities he had to go fishing or golfing. Joe also had an artist’s eye, capturing beauty through photography and seeing things in the world that many people missed. He spent thousands of dollars and countless hours trying to capture the ever elusive “Pierce Pond loons” in their natural habitat. And if there was one thing everyone knew about Joe, it was his fierce loyalty to Boston sports. He was a devoted fan of the City of Champions and passionately loved his beloved Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox, and New England Patriots long before banners, parades, and championship dynasties became expected. Through every heartbreak and every title run, Joe stayed faithful. Wins felt sweeter because he remembered the years when they did not come easily.
Joe also loved music of every kind, especially outlaw country and the unique sounds of Johnny Cash, Slim Whitman, Leonard Cohen, Arlo Guthrie, and Leon Redbone. He was an exceptional cook whose chicken fingers, chicken cutlets, and many culinary masterpieces became staples at family gatherings. His award-winning pasta sauce became so legendary that the competition he won year after year was eventually renamed in his honor.
Joe’s sense of humor, words of wisdom, quirky sayings, and quiet way of teaching life lessons will be deeply missed. Though he was a man of few words in his younger years, he later developed a gift for writing and left behind thoughts and stories that deserve to be preserved.
Even in his final days, his spirit and humor remained intact. When his doctor asked if there was anything he needed, Joe pointed toward his sneakers. He was ready to go home. Home is where he led us to where we would be at peace while he said his goodbyes. He was exactly where he wanted to be for two days surrounded by love, food, music and family. He made us all feel special right up to the last moment when he opened his eyes, looked around, grinned, and with a wink and nod let us know it is “good-bye for now”. FYI…. He hasn’t texted us yet
Joe spent 84 years doing something few people truly accomplish: leaving every person he met better than they were before they knew him. “Some people pass through life collecting things. Joe passed through life collecting people — and making them family.”
Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation on Tuesday, May 19, from 4:00–7:00 PM at Chapman Funeral and Cremations 74 Algonquin Ave. Mashpee.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 20, at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church 5 Job’s Fishing Road Mashpee.
Burial will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the Kiwanis Club of Mashpee Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 334, Mashpee, MA 02649; The Home for Little Wanderers, 72–74 East Dedham Street, Boston, MA 02118; or to a charity of one’s choice