Giocondo Marcelli

Giocondo (Jack) Marcelli,83, of Roswell passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2012. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 1, 1928 to Giocondo Marcelli and Vienna Bettacchi Marcelli, he was the first of three children. Jack’s parents and sisters precede him in death. Giocondo Marcelli, Jr., nicknamed Jack, served his country with pride and honor during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. Since childhood he dreamed of enlisting in the U.S. Navy a dream which was fulfilled. His career ended in 1966 retiring from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer. Jack served on various ships that sailed the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Caribbean Sea, and Arctic Ocean. He served in Guam where Japanese soldiers did not know the war had ended and was still hiding in the hills trying to continue the fight. In addition to serving on many ships, Jack had a tour of duty with a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion that constructed a Naval Facility in Barbados, West Indies. Later remaining there as his duty station. Jack was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Occupation Service Medal, and five awards of the Good Conduct Medal. After retiring from the Navy, he and his family made their home in Virginia Beach, VA where he was actively involved in his Church and Community. Jack attended Community college and received his AS degree in business administration. He went to work for a national nursing home management company as vice president of accounting functions. Upon retiring from that position, Jack and his wife Jill moved to Roswell, where he took up volunteering for Sunday Church Services at the Juvenile detention center. Later he took a position with the State of New Mexico teaching math to students trying to get their GED, at the Chaves County Career Center. His primary interest in retirement was to minister to Juvenile prisoners, teaching them the values of a better life. Jack first married in 1951, Annie Niegocki, she passed away in 1978. Together they had six children,five of whom are still living. They are Louis and Larry Marcelli, Lorraine Taylor, Gina Theisen, and Anna Marie Sparrow. Jack remarried in 1982 to Jill Mounts Marcelli and added two step-daughters to the family, Dusty James and Celia Morgan. The children are scattered and live in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. In addition to the seven children, Jack leaves behind twelve grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. A memorial mass will be held at 10 am Thursday, June 28, 2012 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with Father Charlie Martinez officiating. Interment to follow in St. Peter’s Columbarium.

Giocondo Marcelli

July 1, 1928 - June 16, 2012