Dear Sandra and Family of Mario,Ann & I have known “Dr. Mario” for less than 10% of his remarkable life, and yet we feel we knew him well. As neighbors in Jonathan Harbour living across the street, we were fortunate to meet him soon after building our home here.From the first time we met, one feels the warmth, and genuine feelings of friendliness, especially when he says “Dearly Beloved!” and offers a big hug before a handshake.Just a few memories of ours of Mario:•As a member of the JH Thursday Lunch Bunch the guys would either drive to Jing Du’s for Sushi or Custom Chinese Stir Fry (for Mario) or “hold- on for dear life and try to stay dry” on Jack’s boat en-route to Pine Island or elsewhere. Mario loved boating, and never complained about getting wet nor being unable to find Italian food on these trips.•As a Doctor and surgeon, Mario never stopped thinking or teaching; he would remind me that ‘surgery was not difficult—if you didn’t mind blood’ or that it was simple to learn to perform a medical procedure after these 3 simple steps: ‘watch one, do one, teach one’ that’s all there is to it. Right!•I don’t think I ever heard Mario complain. Here’s a good example: For one of his recent birthdays, sometime in his 80’s, Sandra planned a surprise party, so she asked Steve Adler and I to take Mario “someplace” for the morning. We opted for an on-shore fishing trip. I forget if we even caught any fish, but upon returning to the dock Mario, seated in the front of the fishing skiff, attempted to disembark before the boat was docked, slipped, and fell partly on the dockage; Steve and I grabbed him and eventually raised Mario fully up onto the dock, helped him to stand, and brought him home. Whereupon the Surprise was waiting. The party lasted all afternoon to the great delight of the guests and Mario–who never once mentioned that he had considerable pain (as a result of the failed disembarking). A subsequent X-Ray showed an in-place fracture!Ann and I enjoyed a number of social visits, dinners at home and at restaurants, with Mario and Sandra and always learned something. Mario was always so pleasant to just be around! And this Irishman writer even learned to like Italian food at Il Pomodoro’s!!We’d like to conclude by offering our deepest sympathies to Sandra and all of Mario’s family, we know it was a long hard journey for Mario and all of you, and perhaps you can continue to enjoy the life of Mario and your part in it, as well.We will continue to remember him, and with our profound gratitude for having shared a small part of his life.Fondly,Ann and FrankPS: Photos pertaining to the above will be posted
