Mario Romanelli, 86

A Five Towns business owner for more than 50 years in Inwood

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Mario Giuseppe Romanelli did not come to the United States until 1949, when he 18, but he became a fixture in the Five Towns. He and his cousin, Angelo Romanelli, founded Associated Marble in 1964, in Queens, before moving to Inwood the following year. 

Romanelli, a resident of East Atlantic Beach, died on Oct. 7. He was 86. Born in Italy in 1931, Romanelli’s father worked as a coal miner in West Virginia before fighting in World War I.

“Mario would always say his greatest accomplishment in his life was his family,” wrote his grandson Nicholas Romanelli. “Mario touched the lives of so many people. His warmth and smile, generosity and kindness, wisdom and friendship radiated through many lives and generations of family and friends.”


Romanelli was honored by the Inwood Civic Association in March, along with David Hance, owner of New York Contracting Service, as the group’s Citizens of the Year. Romanelli said that he took pride in helping his community, he quoted President John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Associated Marble hired students who dropped out of Lawrence High School and taught them a trade, likely keeping them from being involved in illegal activities. “You have to work hard, though,” said Romanelli. “Five days a week, seven if you have to.”

According to his Nicholas, when his grandfather was not he enjoyed gardening, telling stories and giving advice. Romanelli also donated time and money to many organizations throughout the Five Towns, including the Italian National Club, the Sons of Italy Leonardo da Vinci Lodge #2385, the Inwood Republican Club and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

He is survived by his wife Lucy, they were married 61 years this year, their sons Larry (Diane), Pat (Josephine) and Mario Jr. (Lisa) and 15 grandchildren.

The wake was at Macken Mortuary in Island Park. The funeral mass was at St. Ignatius Church in Long Beach on Oct. 11.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations could be given to the charity of the donor’s choice in Romanelli’s name.