Marilyn Torchio's Obituary
“This world is not conclusion,
A sequel stands beyond,
Invisible, as music,
But positive as sound.” Emily Dickinson
Marilyn Adams Torchio passed from this life on November 19, 2015 followed by her adoring husband, Martin F. Torchio on December 14, 2015. Marilyn born on October 24, 1932, had just celebrated her 83rd birthday with family and friends. Marty born February 18, 1928 was 87 years young. Throughout their marriage, Marilyn referred to Marty as her Knight in Shining Armor and Marty always called her his Darling Beautiful Bride. They would have celebrated 61 years of their beautifully written love story on November 27, 2015.
Marilyn was born to Frances and William Adams and raised in Oakland, California. She was a very loving feisty spirit and proud to come from hardy Irish–English–Scotch stock. Marty, christened Mario, by his Italian immigrant parents, Jennie and Frank Torchio was born in Chicago, Illinois. When a young boy, Marty migrated to San Jose, California with his family. They settled in San Jose for its Mediterranean climate, fertile land and abundant opportunities. Marty was a very proud first-generation Sicilian-American with adventurous roots and was always saying humorous phrases in Italian. Together, Marilyn and Marty created the true feeling and meaning of la Familia with their family.
They met on a rather unique double blind-date while both were attending San Jose State. Marilyn took one look at Marty and insisted the other couple trade so she could be Marty’s date. Thus began their enduring love story of soul-mates found.
Before college Marty served in the United States Army as a boat mechanic in Japan. The GI Bill helped fund his college education along with hard work in the Del Monte Cannery and fixing and selling cars. During college Marilyn, known for her culinary talents, cooked for a boarding house full of young college men and taught Ballroom dance at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. She enjoyed all kinds of music, especially jazz and was a great fan of Wynton Marsalis.
Marilyn and Marty were married November 27, 1954. They began their family with the birth of their daughter, Lisa followed by their son, Mark.
Devoted to raising their children, Marilyn stayed home until they were old enough for her to take up a career. She dreamed of being a journalist, having been the editor of her high school paper, but was lead to selling real estate. She spent many energized and successful years as a Real Estate agent in the Bay Area.
Marilyn was an artist at heart moving between mediums as she followed her varied interests. Her favorites were quilting and Tole painting. Marilyn was an avid bargain basement shopper and delighted in finding a deal. Her family benefited with her generous showering of gifts, especially on birthdays and holidays.
Marilyn loved the holidays and always made every celebration special with unique decorations and delicious foods. She came from a long-line of great cooks. She took her cooking to a supreme level and passed that legacy on to her children and grandchildren, especially her son, Mark and grandson, Paul. Although none, as yet, have surpassed her talent of making a perfect pie crust.
Marty was the first in his family to graduate college fulfilling the dream of his immigrant parents desire for higher education and greater opportunities for their children. He went on to earn a teaching certificate and spent over 30 years teaching Industrial Arts for Sequoia Unified School District, mostly at San Carlos High School. He specialized in metal shop, welding, drafting and ceramics. Marty was know as Mr. T. to his students and was a much beloved teacher. He appreciated that many of his students kept in touch with him long into his retirement.
Marty was an ace mechanic, especially with autos and he dedicated much of his extra time fixing up cars to resell for extra cash. There wasn’t much he couldn’t fix and his great- grandson, Sean Michael dubbed him the family “Solutionator”. Marty shared with Marilyn the thrill of landing a bargain and was a yard sale aficionado collecting a lifetime of treasures.
Besides his wife and his family, his next great love was the outdoors. He spent many, many happy adventures camping, hunting, fishing and abalone picking. He was a member of Wilderness Unlimited where he was a patrolman and volunteered with special club events. He took great pleasure in sharing his enthusiasm for the outdoors with his family and friends. He told and retold, one of his fondest stories, in every detail of taking his grandson, Eric out hunting and guiding him to bagging his first buck.
Because his teaching schedule allowed they took their children on many road trips. They were known by neighbors as the Travelin’ T’s. In 1965, Marilyn and Marty bought property in Grass Valley and since then have split their time between their homes in Fremont and Grass Valley. When their children were young the family spent weekends and summers in Grass Valley. They all loved the rural small town atmosphere in Nevada County and instilled in their kids the desire to get out of the Big City. Their daughter, Lisa did just that settling in Quincy and over the past 36 years, Marilyn and Marty shared many happy holidays and outdoor adventures in Plumas County with Lisa’s family.
Marilyn will be remembered as an avid reader with a sharp intellect, an exceptionally caring sensitive person, an excellent listener offering good guidance and advise when asked and always and forever deeply loving her family and friends.
Marty will be remembered for taking very seriously his role as the Head of the Family along with his “kid at heart” attitude delighting in sharing fun-loving activities with his kids, grandkids and great-grand kids. He especially loved shooting off fireworks, snowball fights and telling stories around a blazing campfire.
In passing they leave Marilyn’s brother, Bill Adams and his wife Joan of Manteca; their daughter, Lisa Torchio Oviatt and her husband Ed of Quincy; and their son, Mark Torchio of San Jose. They were the proud grandparents to Jessica Oviatt Jones and her husband Sean of Minden, NV; Eric Oviatt and his fiancée Sarah of Quincy; Paul Oviatt of Arcata; Nicholas Torchio of Chico; and Dominic Torchio of San Jose. They were adoring great-grandparents to Sean Michael Jones II and his wife Desiree, both active duty Marines; Caitlin Jones of San Francisco; Sofia and Charlotte Jones both of Minden, NV.
Marilyn leaves behind her very Best Buddy, Liz Sullivan of Livermore. Both Liz and her husband, Jim Steinle were the couple’s closest friends. They also leave numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Marty is preceded in death by his siblings Grace Magliocco, Ann Dresser and Phil Torchio.
A double Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on Valentines Day, February 14, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Chapel of the Chimes located at 4499 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611. Interment will follow on Monday, February 15, 2016 at 11:00 am.
An opportunity to express condolences to the family is available online at: htpp.//oakland.chapelofthechimes.com
In honor of their late Goddaughter, Kate Steinle, memorial contributions can be made in Marilyn and Marty’s memory to the Kate Steinle Memorial Scholarship Fund, Challenged Athletes Foundation, 9591 Waples St., San Diego, CA 92121 or on-line at www.challengedathletes.org.
Marilyn and Marty’s family and friends trust they have reached the ultimate bargain basement sale and happy hunting grounds in the sky. Both will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Their enduring love for each other will always be an inspiration and their legacy of love will live on in their family and friend’s hearts forever and always. We are all confidant that Marilyn and Marty are happily reunited on their Moon River journey together.
Arrivederci! Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa
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