Martino John “Tino” Torello, 89, of Wales Township, Michigan died peacefully at home Saturday, December 11, 2021.
He was born June 14, 1932 in Royal Oak, Michigan to Italian immigrants, the late Vincenza (Servitto) and Vincenzo “James” Torello.
On September 10, 1953 he married Mary Thomas, the love of his life, in Marine City, Michigan. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army having been drafted for service in the Korean War, and with the armistice, serving in The Army of Occupation in Germany following World War II.
Tino was a lifelong farmer in Wales Township which included truck farming to Detroit's Eastern Market, and also retired from Burgess Contracting.
Tino proudly expressed his Italian American heritage which shined in his cooking, gardening, and hospitality. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, and creating art and craft from antiques and farm implements, seeing function and beauty in objects before others could.
Tino enjoyed talking, especially on the phone, using his unique command of the English language. He loved visiting with family and friends who were all dear to him. His vast network of loved ones reached as far around the globe as India.
Team Tino and Mary enjoyed a 30-year retirement. Through the years their travels took them across the USA and Canada, usually in pursuit of a fish, and to the European countries of Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain, the island nations of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and St. Martin, to the subcontinent of India, and to Morocco in north Africa. Not bad for a farm boy from Smith's Creek.
Tino possessed a unique gift of connecting with others. His lived experience gave him exposure to a broad and deep cross-section of life. He gave people a chance and looked for the good in a person. Through it all, Mary was the wind beneath his wings.
Martino was truly a unique soul here on Earth. He is now out in our universe. May Tino's goodness shower down on us.
Martino is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary; six children, James E. Torello, Diane Torello-Moger (George Moger), Antoinette Torello (Michael Kennedy), Tina Torello (Michael Gardner, deceased), Gloria Torello (John Arevalo), Amy Torello (Eugene Liparota), and honorary daughter Bela (Micky) Dalal; grandchildren, Isaiah Torello Moger, Nathan Torello Moger, and Kristen Gardner; great grandchildren, Rowan Moger, Remy Moger, and Tommy Gardner; brothers, Silvio “Angelo” (Jeannie) Torello and Julian (Nancy) Torello; sisters, Angeline Luciani, Florence (William) Herlihy, and Joanne (Jim) Nelson; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers, Gilbert (Alfrieda) Torello and Eugene (Carol) Torello; in-laws, Mary (Kessel) and Everett Thomas, Janet (Jim) Moran, and Arnie Luciani.
The family would like to extend gratitude to Dr. Daher, the outstanding staff at Lake Huron Medical Center including nurses Jackie, Ashley, Arden, and Dr. Murphy, Memphis and Richmond Lenox EMS, the St. Clair County Sheriff Department, and the staff of Harbor Health Home Care, especially Michelle Kruppa.
Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, December 17, 2021 in the Marysville Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 18, 2021 in the Marysville Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Wales Township. Pallbearers will be Isaiah Torello Moger, Nathan Torello Moger, David Herlihy, Jared Luciani, Scott Torello, Jim Moran, Dean Torello, Mark Torello, Marty Torello, and Ryan Schott.
Graveside Military Honors will be conducted by the U.S. Army and the St. Clair County Allied Veterans Honor Guard.
Honor Tino with a memorial contribution to:
Bioregion Reparation Fund, through Community Foundation of St. Clair County https://www.stclairfoundation.org/fund/bioregion-reparation-fund; or Six Rivers Land Conservancy https://www.sixriversrlc.org/donate
To send condolences, visit marysvillefuneralhome.com http://marysvillefuneralhome.com/
