Jacksonville - Dcn. Anthony Marini

Deacon Anthony Marini, who in 1982 was ordained a member of the Diocese of Rochester's first class of permanent deacons, died June 13, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla., after a long illness. He was 95 years old.

A native of Italy, Deacon Marini moved to the United States when he was 6 and grew up in Brooklyn. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Fordham College in 1952 and an MBA in statistics from New York University in 1954. He was employed by Western Electric Co. and American Can Co. in Manhattan, and he also was an adjunct statistics professor at Pace College.

In 1965, he accepted a position with Xerox Corp., moving to Rochester. There, he and his late wife, Maria, became active in the Cursillo movement, and in 1969, Bishop Joseph L. Hogan appointed him as diocesan lay director for Cursillo.

In 1978, he began studies for the Rochester Diocese's inaugural permanent-deacon class. He was ordained by Bishop Matthew H. Clark on April 17, 1982. He was assigned to St. Louis Parish, Pittsford, with a concurrent assignment to the diocesan Ministry to Priests.

Deacon Marini moved to Florida in 1984, serving in the Diocese of St. Petersburg and retiring from Xerox in 1987. Beginning in 1992, he also ministered seasonally in the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., with a special focus on migrant ministry and Hispanic outreach. In 1997, he moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., in the Diocese of St. Augustine. He retired from diaconal ministry in 2004.

Deacon Marini is survived by his daughter, Agnes (Philip) Barber; son, Claude (Janie) Marini; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are set for June 19 and 20, 2026, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.