Daniel Vincent Mariani
Dec. 5, 1929 – Jan. 5, 2022
Daniel V. Mariani, 92, of Cross Ridge, Glen Allen loyal husband to Irma (Conklin) for 67 years, beloved father of Daniel (Mary), Carol (Steve), Diane, Thomas (Sue) and John (Michelle), grandfather to 14 and great-grandfather to 6, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. He was cherished by all who knew him.
Dan was a proud, courageous Korean War Veteran. He was a Bronze Star recipient recognized for gallantry during ground operations as a signal corps operator.
Dan was a New Yorker by birth and carried his love for the Yankees, wherever he lived. During the infancy of the computer industry, he was the manager of IT at Continental Can Company. Dan was an entrepreneur and committee organizer who held officer posts for the American Legion and Knights of Columbus. He was known for his kindness and generosity of spirit.
If you were in need, you could always rely on Dan for help. His family and friends were the center of his life, and that family was always expanding. People he hardly knew were touched by his presence.
A Funeral Mass will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dan’s memory to: VCU Health Pauley Heart Center.
Dan (Mr. Mariani to those of use who grew up with his children in Baldwin, NY) lived a great life that we should celebrate. Like so many of his generation, he dedicated himself to building a better life for his family and his community. He answered his country’s call as a young man, serving with honor and heroism.
We all have so many fond memories of Mr. M. He always greeted you with a kind word and a warm smile. (Okay, he would also fit in a reminder of how his team bested his son’s team in softball. Like all great mentors, he motivated us to do better in the next contest.)
I will always recall how hard Mr. Mariani worked to provide for his family. When the work week ended on Friday night, Mr. M would be gearing up for the weekend, when he would build a successful small business, through which he taught his children the value and rewards of hard work. It was all about the family and providing opportunities for his kids. Paying the tuition so they would have the chance to get a solid education and succeed.
Those children have carried forward Mr. M’s legacy of friendship and community building in a manner that I greatly admire. I am confident that all in the Mariani family will continue to do so in the years ahead!
To Mrs. Mariani, Dan, Carol, Diane, Tom and John, their wives, and all of the Mariani grandchildren and great-grandchildren, thank you for sharing this great man with us! He and other great men and women of his generation touched my life and many other lives in immeasurable ways!
So sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Mariani.
I became friends with his oldest son, Danny, in the early 1960’s, as we both attended Plaza Elementary School.
Since the Mariani family lived just two houses from Plaza,
I got to know his family as well.
Mr. Mariani always “gave me the business” about certain
behaviors that Danny and I got involved in, but he would
always have a smile on his face when he did so. Never
in a malicious way. Heck, I’ll never forget when he joined
us in the bar located in the basement of his Baldwin home.
We drank beer, he had a brandy. This was in the evening
when we graduated Baldwin High (1974). Great time!
And he truly was a great man. Honest, upfront, and easy
to talk to. He will be missed; but try to think of it this
way: our loss will be Heaven’s gain.
Our condolences to the entire Mariani family.
Owen and Maureen Flynn.
I had the honor and pleasure to meet this wonderful man and his lovely wife Irma through their daughter, Diane. From the first meeting until I left Richmond 7 1/2 years ago, he was pretty much a second Pops to me (and really to all that he met). Every time we saw each other it was always with a big hug and kiss. I was immediately drawn into his family, having the pleasure of going to so many of their family functions. His heart was big with love for not only his family, but their friends as well. His patience was endless, his advice sound and zest for life contagious. I have so many memories when I think of him, and I treasure each of them. I may not have known him my entire life, but my life certainly was enriched with the time I had with him. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the entire Mariani family. With much love and affection, Lisa Leuch
I have many wonderful fine memories as a kid of “Mr M”, as to myself he was a 2nd dad . My thoughts are to everyone in the family, as I considered them the best friends a family could ever have.