Marino leaves lasting legacy

LYNN – Those who knew and loved Antonio Marino said Lynn residents who never met the late mayor can identify with his upbringing in an immigrant family and the years he spent working as a laborer before testing his leadership skills.?The lesson taught by his status as an immigrant and overcoming initial difficulty and rising to leadership is an incredible one,” said Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy.Kennedy and former mayors Edward “Chip” Clancy Jr. and Irving Kane were among 150 mourners who attended Marino?s funeral Thursday in Holy Family Church. Marino, Lynn?s mayor for 11 years, died Sunday at the age of 92.Kennedy and 18 other former Marino colleagues, as well as friends, lined Holy Family?s front steps as Marino?s widow, Ingrid, followed his casket into the church where the Rev. Gregory Mercurio described Marino as “a good leader and a good man.”Born in Brooklyn, Antonio was the first child of 12 born to immigrants Emilio and Elettra (Senatore) Marino. Marino?s upbringing was like that of many who came from Italy, and he didn?t learn to speak English until he was 6.?When he entered the first grade, he only spoke Italian. In a few months, he excelled in English, and was able to get in front of the class and speak,” Marino?s brother, Joseph, told the mourners.Joseph Marino said his older brother “substituted many times as a second father” to his younger siblings, assuming a responsibility delegated to him by his working parents.His family moved to Lynn and Vine Street and Marino graduated Classical High School and worked as a laborer before winning a United Furniture Movers of America union stewardship election.?He had a natural ability to organize,” Joseph Marino said.Kennedy said Marino?s record mayoral tenure underscored his ability to work with people on difficult challenges.?For anyone to stay in office that long, they must be doing something right,” she said.Former School Committee member Annmarie Jonah said Marino often spoke fondly of the former Brickyard neighborhood in West Lynn where he grew up.?He used to say it had strong women and he talked about how no one saw differences in ethnicity and no one knew they were poor,” Jonah recalled.Urban renewal initiatives demolished Brickyard streets, including the section of Vine where Marino grew up, and former City Councilor John Bresnahan said Marino shaped a city development policy focused in part on preserving factory and mill buildings in the city?s center.?He gave the city back to the people,” Bresnahan said.A Navy honor guard was scheduled to salute Marino at his burial in Pine Grove Cemetery, and his brother said Marino reserved his greatest pride for the Navy honor citation he received in World War II.Joseph Marino described his brother as an excellent cook and gardener and a constant optimist.?He looked at the glass as half-full and he was comfortable with people regardless of their education and status,” he said.