Obituary-Dr. Roland Mariani (1915-2004)
Published on 9/25/2004
New London — Dr. Roland A. Mariani, 89, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, at his beloved second home, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.
Born in New London on Montauk Ave. on Sept. 19, 1915, he was the son of the late Joseph and Caroline (DeBiasi) Mariani, who were immigrants from the Province of Avellino near Naples, Italy. Dr. Mariani graduated from the former Bulkeley School in 1934 and went on to study chemistry and biology, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1941 from the University of Alabama. He obtained his degree in medicine in 1944 from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. The Army took over the medical school during World War II because of the need for doctors to treat battle casualties. After an internship at Hartford Hospital, he served in 1945 and 1946 at Army General Hospital in Martinsburg, W.Va., and then returned to Hartford Hospital, where he served on the surgical staff until 1951.
In 1953 the Army recalled him for service in Korea, where surgeons were again in demand. A captain, he reported to a MASH unit on the east coast of Korea. He was named chief of surgery at his MASH unit. During his service, Dr. Mariani was wounded and returned home, where he resumed his practice of medicine on Montauk Avenue in New London. He was adored by his patients who found him to be sensitive, gentle, conscientious, compassionate and caring.
He was not only devoted wholeheartedly to his patients, but gave much of his time to his community. He served as a member of the New London Charter Revision Committee and the State Pardons Board, where he was the first medical doctor to serve as its chair. He served on the Ocean Beach Park Board, was chairman of the Ethics Committee of the New London County Medical Society and a member of the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital Surgical Review Committee and the Quality Assurance Committee. In addition, he was instrumental in working on the committee that erected the marble fountain in Garibaldi Square as a tribute to New London's Italian community.
Construction was always one of Dr. Mariani's first loves. At age 16 he helped build the Small Bridge in Pomfret, Conn. He worked rebuilding the Occum Dam, which had been destroyed by the 1938 hurricane, and in the late 1930s he helped to build the bridge between Misquamicut and Weekapaug. Later he worked as a timekeeper for the construction of a bridge over Jordan's Cove in Waterford and assisted in building the bridges over the Thames River and on the Wilbur Cross Parkway. He was also an accomplished electrician and worked wiring homes on his summers off from medical school.
Dr. Mariani will be remembered further for his love of sailing and boating, and for his love of Italy and the Italian people. He lived in awe of the beauty and complexities of nature and marveled at the intricate workings of the human body. He was a man of learning and understanding with the sort of brilliant mind capable of explaining the most daunting concepts in simple terms.
He was wed in 1951 to his beloved wife of 42 years, the late Celeste “Edie” Mariani. Dr. Mariani leaves behind three children, Deborah Lawrence and her husband, David Lawrence, of Acton, Mass., Attorney Linda Mariani and her husband, Attorney David Neusner, of Old Lyme, and Eleanor Mariani and her husband, Ron Murallo, of Quaker Hill; a sister, Gloria Richards of Waterford; and six grandchildren, Alexander, Julia, and Gabriella Neusner of Old Lyme, Selina and Felicia Murallo of Quaker Hill and Karen Lawrence of Acton, Mass. He also leaves a great-granddaughter, Heather Daigle, of Acton, Mass., and many close friends, including Josephine “Josie” Esposito, Sadie and Al Paoloni and Justice Angelo Santaniello.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Eleanor and Marietta, and a brother, Alfred.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London. The funeral service will assemble at 9 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in New London. Following the Mass, entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery Mausoleum, New London.
Donations may be made to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, 365 Montauk Ave., New London, CT 06320 or to Hospice of Southeastern CT, 179 Gallivan Lane, Uncasville CT 06382.