Mario Charles Drago

Gently passing, surrounded by family, Mario Drago reached 92 amazing years filled with love and cherished memories. Born in Cleveland Ohio in 1930, the son of Ann and Gaetano Drago, Mario graduated from Lakewood High School and attended Ohio State University. At the start of the Korean War, he volunteered to join the U.S. Air Force and served from 1951-1955 as a Military Police Officer, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. He returned to Ohio to attend Baldwin Wallace College and graduated with a B.S. Degree in Business Management in 1957. He then moved to Las Vegas for the first time to work at Wilbur Clark’s Desert Inn Hotel from 1959-1961. He returned to Cleveland to grow his family and take a rewarding job with Johns Manville pipe company. He was transferred back to Las Vegas in 1970 and received national top sales recognition with JM for multiple years thereafter. Mario joined the Las Vegas Elks #1468 Lodge in 1971. He was a member of various Elks committees, and in 1978 served on the Elks Helldorado Rodeo Board and was responsible for all publicity and promotion for Helldorado. In 1984 when the National Finals Rodeo was looking for a new home, they met with Mario and the Elks Helldorado Board for consultation. The next year the NFR had a new home in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mac Center and Mario was later inducted into the Helldorado Rodeo Hall of Fame. Mario continued working in the pipe industry, starting a sales rep company, DOT Sales Co., with two partners in 1992. From 1970 up to the time he retired in 2006, it was the pipe that Mario sold that delivered approximately 80% of all the water to all the neighborhoods, homes and hotels located here in the Las Vegas valley. Throughout his life he visited every corner of the U.S. and ventured out and around the world many times. But nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family and friends. Upon hearing of his passing a friend replied, “I will always remember his baritone voice, his easy smile, and his kindness.” He was a wonderful son, brother, father, husband and friend. Those who knew him, count themselves very lucky. He is preceded by his mother and father, his brother Tony, and his first wife Marlene. He is survived by his wife Judy, daughters Debby and Denny, sons Tom and Charlie, grandkids Becky, Daniel, Sophie, Hannah, A.J. and Lily, and great grandkids Aria and Cadence. Donations are being accepted on behalf of Mario at The Foundation Assisting Seniors, 2518 Anthem Village Dr. Suite 102, Henderson, NV 89052 (702) 244-4200 and at Infinity Hospice Care, 6330 S. Jones Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89118 (702) 880-7002.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmeastern.com for the Drago family.