Rev. John Mariano, 79, LI priest, dies

The Rev. John Mariano spent 50 years as a priest and taught theology at the college level. But his niece, Allison Mariano Bonoff, remembers him not just as a great preacher but also as a fun-loving uncle who was always taking pictures of the family, making witty and funny comments, and cooking delicious meals.

"He had another side to him that we knew -- just a fun person to be around," she said.

Mariano, 79, who most recently lived in Hampton Bays and spent years celebrating weekend Masses in Seaford, died Monday.

Mariano was born in Brooklyn in 1931 and attended St. Michael's Elementary School and High School in Sunset Park. He went on to Cathedral College in Queens and Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington.

He also did postgraduate studies at St. John's University and New York University.

He served at several parishes in the Diocese of Brooklyn, including St. Fortunato from 1958-1961, Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen from 1961-1964, St. Edmunds from 1965-1967, and St. Aloysius from 1967-68.

He also taught at St. Francis College from 1968-1972 and at St. John's from 1972-1995. At St. John's he also served as an adviser to the Beta Epsilon Rho fraternity. During the years he taught, Mariano also assisted with Sunday Mass at St. William the Abbot in Seaford.

Bonoff said Mariano also spent some weekends in Farmingdale, where she grew up and her parents owned a home for 45 years.

Mariano was a big fan of classical music, opera and Broadway shows, his niece said. In his later years he spent summers in Hampton Bays, where he caught up with his reading and enjoyed the visits by some of his numerous friends, Bonoff said. During winters he stayed in Florida.

Bonoff said her uncle was dedicated to his priesthood, and had said he knew from the age of 5 he wanted to be a priest.

Mariano is also survived by his brother, George; his nephew, Christopher Mariano; Bonoff's husband, Adam, and their daughter, Abigail. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at St. William the Abbot in Seaford.