​From:

Mario's son-in-law, Curtis Freilich

 

Mario was a teacher and the greatest lesson he taught was the example of his life.

 

From the first time that I met him so many years ago I always felt loved and welcome, a part of this large and wonderful family, something that felt so natural and right, something not usually present in my own immediate family.

 

He was a remarkable man with so much natural joy and passion (that Latin thing) – passions that ranged far and wide -

whether it was his love for Simone or his passion for art, theater and music.  I will miss our long and many sessions sitting

listening to all kinds of music  together – classical, pop, Latin and more.  And when he listened he moved, as if the music

were a part of him.

 

His love for people was vast.  He had more friends than anyone I’ve ever known, friends all over the world. 

A funny Mario story (and there are many!):

We both shared a love of technology and the latest gadgets which usually meant Apple products -  one day I was helping him

with his “contacts” on his new iPhone or computer -  somehow all his contacts ended up merging with the contacts on my

computer.  I went through to delete his contacts from my computer.  This was no easy task!  There were hundreds and hundreds,

maybe a thousand names and they were from all over the world – South America, Mexico, Israel, Greece,  Europe, everywhere in

the United States.  It took me a very, very long time to delete and I still occasionally come across a Mario contact on my computer.

  

He had a passion for travel.  He took me along with Ricky to Italy while running the students abroad program.  He took Mireille,

our children and me to many places all over the world.  He enjoyed showing us the places he loved everywhere and I remember

he would always be far ahead in the distance waiting for us and ready to keep moving – he was an ambassador to the world.

 

I remember our long and wonderful discussions on philosophy and life, about Judaism, the Kabbalah. The word he loved more

than any other was “Mensch” which he said he aspired to be but which really came effortlessly to him.  I looked up the meaning

of the word: someone we hold in high regard and aspire to be like.

 

Another Mario story:

The day before I left to come to Mario’s funeral service I was at my dentist having a procedure for a crown.  Somehow it came up

that I was leaving town the next day and Karen (my dentist) asked if it was a business trip.  I reluctantly explained to her that 

Mario had passed away and I was going to his service. She stopped and got teary-eyed.  Mario had come to see her several years

earlier for dental work and of course he befriended her.  She explained that a few nights previous she’d come across the lovely

shawl that he’d brought back for her from Bolivia.

 

At times he could seem so innocent or naïve – how could anyone live in this contemporary world and not become hard and cynical?  Mario was like a wonderful well-spring of joy amidst the dark and troubling news of the day.

 

I was fortunate and lucky to have him in my life. I will miss him.