Mario Ferrari passed away the evening of October 3 at the age of 90. Mario was born in Bagni di Lucca, Italy, to Maria and Settimo Ferrari. He remained in Italy with his mother while his father established a home in Brooklyn. Mother and son joined the father in Brooklyn when Mario was 15. He served in the army, worked as a draftsman in Milwaukee, and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic. In 1962 he married Alberta Bentzig and they moved to the Binghamton area where Mario worked for IBM both as an engineer and in management. He made many lifelong friends through his work, his many sports, and his volunteer tax preparation work. At the same time, he maintained his Italian friendships and family contacts with frequent visits to his homeland. He provided a wonderful home and life for his family and was an excellent father and grandfather. Mario loved travel, adventure, and camping with his friends and sons, and was generous to all throughout his life. After Alberta's passing, Mario steadfastly remained in the home they had built together, a place they both loved dearly.

Mario is survived by his sons Stephen, Paul, and Michael, daughters-in-law Heike and Jenelle, and grandchildren Maximo, Jordana, and Dominick.

The family will receive friends at the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, 300 E. Main St. Endicott, on Wednesday October 16 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. A funeral mass will be offered that day at St. Patrick's Church, 300 Main St. Owego, at 12:00 noon. Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Owego.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Mercy House of the Southern Tier, who cared for Mario in his last days.