Thomas R Mariano

His beloved wife, Linda Lou (O’Hara) Mariano, his daughter Margo Kathleen Mariano and his granddaughter Abigail June Mariano predecease him.

Tommy is survived by his loving children, daughter Maja Meighan and her husband Kyle and son Matthew Thomas and his wife Nicole, his cherished grandchildren; Hunter Meighan, and Norah and Ella Mariano. He is also survived by his sister Franceska Mariano, his brothers Leonard Mariano and wife Michele and Joseph Mariano as well as his niece Angela and nephews Leonard, III and Joseph Jr. and their families.

Tommy grew up in Short Hills, NJ and was a graduate of Millburn High School. He attended Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. It was in Nebraska that he met and married the love of his life, Linda Lou.

He was a proud veteran of the US Army, serving his country in Germany during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of Sargent. He worked for his family oil business “Thomas Oil Company”, and later started his own business “Tom’s Heating and Air” in Edmond, Oklahoma and Forked River, NJ. His final position was a Salesman for Four Points Heating and Air Conditioning in Pt. Pleasant, NJ

With his love of animals, he worked with the famous Volney Phifer who knew how to make an animal sit up and pay attention. Volney was Hollywood's premier animal trainer, and his most successful pupil was Leo, the MGM lion, who Volney taught to roar on cue. Tommy loved the animals on the farm especially Leo the Lion. Volney trained Tommy to work with the animals on the farm in Gillette, NJ.

Tommy was a competitive Quarter Horse Cutter, winning many medals as a horseman. He trained in Findlay, Ohio under American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Dale Wilkinson competing in the Quarter Horse Circuit in Oklahoma and Texas. In high school, he and his horse Ms. Joe a King breed Quarter Horse performing in live operas at the Metropolitan Opera House. He joins at an early age the National Cutting Horse Association and National Reining Horse Association futurities. He competed in many NRHA Futurity starting his competition at age 16. In 1970 at a NRHA Futurity aboard AQHA King breed quarter Horse, and again in 1975 with “Still Smokin” a Mare by Mr. Gun Smoke. His final Quarter Horse was “Peps Best Boy” better known as “Peps” bred from American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer in 2008 Peppy San Badger better known as Little Peppy, traced back to the foundation lines of the King Ranch. Peps and Tommy won many American Quarter Horse Association Cutting Competition throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania; including the 2009, 2010 and 2013 Champion Buckle Series at Rainbow Run Farm, Hillsborough Township, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tommy’s name may be sent to The American Quarter Horse Association https://donatetoday.aqha.com/inmemory of “Tommy R. Mariano”.

A graveside service will be held Monday, June 7 at 1:00pm at St. Mary Cemetery, Manahawkin, NJ

To leave online condolences and fond memories of Tommy for the family, please visit www.shinnfuneralhome.com

The Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home, 10 Hilliard Dr., Manahawkin, NJ was entrusted with the arrangements.