Ralph A. Marcano

Ralph Anthony Marcano II, 86, of Palmyra, NY passed this earthly plane on February 11, 2011. 

He was firstborn of the late Ralph Anthony Marcano I and the late Petra Flores Marcano and the older brother of both Florence Polverino and Emmanuel Marcano, of Newark, NY. He leaves a broad legacy in his eight children, Lisa Hyland-Marcano of Valley Cottage, NY, Ralph Marcano III,    Ethan Marcano and Antony Marcano of Salt Spring Island, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Tomas Harges-Marcano of Brooklyn, NY, Gilson Marcano of Delmont, PA, Peter Marcano of Massapequa, NY and Daniel Marcano of Rochester, NY.  He is also survived by ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and many more, great and great-great.

Tony Palladino, of Manhattan, fellow artist and lifelong friend, deserves special mention as both have described each other as primary influences of their life’s work.  They have known one another and remained the best of friends for over 60 years, not downplaying the countless other friends he had met along the way. Ralph was an artist, painter, sculptor and collector with an avid interest in American and world history and owned many artifacts of Museum quality. He collected Native American artifacts from a young age, and was fascinated with the science of flight. He was drafted and served in the Army Air Forces as a pilot, flying non-combat bombers transporting dignitaries throughout the U.S. and was later chosen as a pall bearer at the funeral of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Post World War II, he became art director of a prominent advertising agency in New York City which afforded him travel to many exotic lands, bringing him in touch with the people and history he had read about.  Many of the rose bushes seen around Newark, NY were planted by Ralph during his time on the rose committee as he felt, as part of the “Rose City’s” heritage, the history should be preserved. He was highly involved with bringing life back to the Erie Canal’s waterways and often painted murals to incite interest that he felt and wanted to share about different cultural and historic situations.  He planted trees in front of the Lincoln School and designed various gardens that can still be enjoyed, such as the one at Newark’s Showplace 6 Movie Theater.

A Memorial and Celebration of Ralph's Life and public viewing of his artwork will be held on June 4, 2011 at 4pm at Vintage Gardens Bed & Breakfast at 310 High Street in Newark, NY.