Obituary: George Mariano, Former West Islip Teacher, Dies At 82

Died: January 4, 2020

Visitation: Wednesday, January 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the William E. Law Funeral Home on 1 Jerusalem Avenue in Massapequa.

Service: Thursday, January 9 starting at 10 a.m. at the St. William the Abbot RC Church on Jackson Avenue in Seaford.

Obituary: George Mariano, a longtime former teacher at West Islip High School, died on Jan 4, 2020. He was 82.

Mariano was born in Brooklyn to parents Chris and Lena Mariano and a brother, John Mariano. Before earning his business degree from St. John’s University, he worked in the garment business where he learned many traits.

He also worked at a car dealership (cars would become a lifelong hobby of his) where he met Sally, his wife of 43 years, who was looking to purchase a car. It was at her urging that he earned a Master’s in Education at Hofstra University.

Mariano became a high school business teacher at West Islip Public Schools where he was instrumental in creating a Distributive Education curriculum. During his career he worked with BOCES and even earned teacher of the year. He forged many relationships with local businesses, placing all his students with part-time jobs and preparing them for life after graduation. To this day, he was still in contact with some of his students.

George and Sally were married on June 30, 1962 and purchased a home in Farmingdale where they raised two children- Chris and Allison. The couple enjoyed many family parties, hosting the first family Halloween party and the annual 4th of July party complete with a pork roasting on the barbeque, ice made out of milk cartons to keep the drinks cold and many a wiffle ball games.

They welcomed many family members over the years, always having room for extended stays. They had many fun times with their neighborhood friends, spending countless hours on front stoops and in backyards drinking and laughing.

After Sally’s death, he moved to Hampton Bays where he spent the summer months. He had many friends, some in his condo community who he’d go out for a burger and beer often at the local pub in town. In recent years, he would spend his days at the local senior center where he’d discuss politics with his buddies from table #8 and who he would attend concerts and picnics with. In the winter months, he would stay in Florida at his condo in Ocean Colony.

Earlier in life, he spent the summers off from school at his condo in Florida, enjoying a daily swim in the ocean, reading the paper and then visiting the sauna.

Family was important to Mariano and he enjoyed spending hours at the dining room table with his son and his family- Chris, Anne, Doug, Danielle and Grandma. He just recently made several visits to the car dealer helping Danielle. He also enjoyed visiting with his daughter and her family in Connecticut- Allison, Adam and Abby as well as dog sitting for a week every August.

Mariano will be missed by the many people he touched throughout his life and will be remembered for his sense of humor, his love of getting together with family and friends and for his profound contribution to the education of so many Long Islanders.

Info via William E. Law Funeral Home