Zavarella, Marino "Mario" D.

Marino “Mario” D. Zavarella, 83, of Windsor, beloved husband of 48 years to Sharren ( Carlson) Zavarella, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Born in Pratola Peligna, I t aly, son of the late Michael and Francesca ( Pizzoferrato) Zavarella, he endured a childhood i n World War II I t aly and emigrated t o America when he was 10 years old. He earned his Bachelor's Degree i n Architecture and Master's Degree of Science in Planning from Pratt I nstitute ( as well as national championship t i t l es with the school's soccer team), and his PhD from Rensselaer Polytechnic I nstitute in Urban and Environmental Studies, and was a licensed architect, landscape architect and i nterior designer, and proud member of the AIA (American I nstitute of Architects), the APA (American Planning Association), the AICP ( American I nstitute of Certified Planners), t he Connecticut Planning Association, and the ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects).

Mario was working i n Rye, NY, soon after finishing his degrees at Pratt Institute, when then-Town Manager of Windsor, CT, Albert Ilg, asked him to come to the town and consider t he post as Town Planner. He came to Windsor and served the Town with distinction for almost 4 decades, retiring i n 2006. Mario enthusiastically started his t enure with t he Master Plan of Development, and Windsor enjoyed unprecedented growth i n the Day Hill Road area and major development i n the Town Center. Mario used his keen artistic skills to design the Town Green, t he Day Hill Road area, Northwest Park, the garden next to the bridge at Bart's Drive-In, and l andscaped areas of the Wilson area of Windsor. Mario's expertise and vision helped Windsor continue the New England community f eel while attracting extensive development and growth. He always aimed f or f airness, neutrality and equity i n his service, and would humbly shy away from accolades, no matter how well-deserved. He received many awards, including one from t he CT Association of American Town Planners for his work on the Town Center, and was also instrumental i n various regional projects, such as the expansion of Bradley Airport and I - 91 ( i ncluding acquiring HOV lanes). Mario's colleagues will remember that he r egularly t raded sli ppers f or dress shoes while i n the office. Most i mportantly, Mario would share that Windsor gifted him the better half of his heart and love of his l i f e. He needed help setting up a f i l i ng system at t he beginning of t his t enure, and i t t r uly was mutual l ove at f i r st sight when Sharren walked i nto his office to i ntroduce herself as his new assistant. To say that sparks flew would be an understatement!

Mario was also active i n the community and an over 50-year member of t he Windsor Lion's Club, and a long-time member of the Pratolan Society of Hartford. He was i ncredibly proud of his I t ali an heritage and loved recreating the traditions and pastimes from his childhood here i n Connecticut. He enjoyed extensive gardening ( i ncluding his beloved f i g t r ees, t omato vines and f ragrant roses), sausage- and prosciutto-making, and growing grapes at Yellow Brick Road Vineyard (Est. 1999) to share winemaking with his family and friends. Mario truly valued education and achieved his doctorate degree and architecture and l andscape architect ure professional licenses while working f ull- t i me as Windsor's Town Planner - a consummate “thinker”, he constantly reached for scraps of paper to make notes and would get l ost i n t he beauty of t he l i nes of a building or the petals of a rose. Mario was happiest sharing a plate of homemade pasta with sauce made from his tomatoes and a glass of homemade wine with his treasured family and dear friends. Mario leaves his beloved wife, Sharren (Carlson) Zavarella, daughters Melanie C. Zavarella and her husband Stephan Van Heuverswyn of France and Marisa F.A. Zavarella and her husband, Aaron Skates, of Windsor, and grandchildren Harper and Logan Marino Skates, truly the apples of his eye. He was predeceased by brothers Manfredo and Ernesto Zavarella. Mario's f amily is i ncredibly grateful f or the l ove and support provided by his family and dear f r i ends, t he kindhearted assistance given by t he staff at the Carmon Funeral Home, and the expert and compassionate healthcare delivered by Dr. Andrew Salner, Dr. Robert Pierkowski, Dr. Todd Alekshun, Masonicare Home Hospice and Hartford Hospital's Palliative Care and High 12 t eams. Private family services will be held with burial in Elm Grove Cemetery in Windsor. Mario's family hopes to hold a Celebration of Mario's l ife when it is safe to gather. Donations may be made to the Windsor Lion's Club, PO Box 55, Windsor, CT 06095, in memory of Mario, where activities benefiting the town he l oved can benefit fr om this support. The Carmon Windsor Funeral Home is caring for the arrangements. For condolences or f urther i nformation, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.