Marco A. Castaldi

Marco Antonio “Sonny” Castaldi; “Pop Pop”, “Grandpa”, “Uncle Sonny”, “Uncle Marc” born November 16, 1934 at 320 Pleasant Avenue in East Harlem, New York.  He married the love of his life, his everything, Marlena Capellupo on September 21, 1963. They were married for exactly 58 years.  As newlyweds, they moved to The Bronx, Buck Street, then Matthews Avenue, and ultimately resided at 2460 Glebe Avenue in the Westchester Square section for 35 years.  There he raised three children Maria Teresa, Marco Joseph and Michelle. He and Marlena decided to become snowbirds.  During that time, they would live in Plantation, Florida in Fall and Winter returning to his ever-growing family at 13 Hearle Drive, Pequannock, N.J.  He loved to also vacation in Aruba for one week every spring with Marlena to “get away” for a while.

Marco attended Benjamin Franklin High School and became a printer by trade at the New York School of Printing in 1952. He served during the Korean War, 1955 – 1957 on active duty stationed at Fort Benning, GA. Marco was a proud veteran, with loyalty, duty, and respect for his country.

Marco was active in every aspect of life. He touched all those that he met with his gregarious nature, friendship and kindness.  He always reminded family and friends of his love, calling and writing often. We hear him laughing and see him smile when we remember those conversations.  Closer to his Harlem and Bronx home he would play paddle ball, softball, stickball, stoopball, boxball, and pool. He loved to bike ride and walk to stay fit.  He also exercised regularly doing pushups, pull-ups and sit-ups, which kept him as the family champion of arm wrestling.  However, his greatest activity was playing cards, and the horses – from Belmont, Gulf Stream, Saratoga, Meadowlands, Hollywood Park. This was his favorite pastime until his last days.

Marco was an avid reader and conversationalist on all topics, but especially science and finance.  He routinely read The Wall Street Journal, Discover Magazine, National Geographic and dozens of books and periodicals.  This enabled him to give advice which always proved helpful to his entire family and friends.  It was known by all that they could call Uncle Sonny, Uncle Marc, Pop Pop, Grandpa, Dad for advice ranging from hard life questions and decisions to politics, financial ideas, thoughts on new discoveries and the type of ice cream that is best.  However, his knowledge and advice on which horse to bet, with which jockey and trainer, at a given track under certain conditions depending on the furlongs, was legendary.

In his later years he focused his energy and time on his grandchildren; Marco Aurelio, Ottavio, Giulia, Constantino, Luca, Olivia, and Alessandra, while remaining a confidante and advisor to his children Maria, Marco, Michelle, Robert, Patricia and Dennis.  He was and is the center of attention and the life of the family gatherings always making us laugh and smile; the center of our family.
Marco is loved by all those who meet him. His generosity with his time is his intangible gift to us all.  With Marco in our lives, we hit the straight exacta, triple, and the win!

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Calvary Hospital would be greatly appreciated.