Martin William Liquori Sr.
March 18, 2023
Martin William Liquori, Sr. died on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the age of 95 in Gainesville, Florida.
Marty Liquori was born in Newark, New Jersey to Louis and Genevieve (Brennan) Liquori and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1947. He and his wife, the former Sara Tosone, raised four children in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
Marty’s mechanical and entrepreneurial talents led him to positions as an auto parts salesman in Montclair, an envelope company executive in Manhattan, a liquor store owner in Hoboken, and then the proprietor of Mountain Exxon in Montclair for twenty years. While working in the envelope business, he took night classes at Columbia and New York University, returning home late and driving back into Manhattan at six the next morning.
Marty and Sara moved to Gainesville in 1986 to live near their oldest son, Olympic runner Marty Liquori, Jr. and his family. Marty Sr. enjoyed a long and successful career in real estate, first with Coldwell Banker and then with Bosshardt Realty. He was highly regarded for his expertise in golf communities.
Although he was too young to serve in World War II, Marty possessed the strengths that defined “the Greatest Generation”. He had a bottomless optimism coupled with a wry sense of humor that carried him and Sara through tough times and helped them prosper along with the America of the 20th century. He had a commitment to his duties and an enjoyment of work that kept him going to the real estate office well into his eighties. He made lasting friendships and, as he got older, his buddies kept getting younger. Most of all, he was devoted to Sara, his children and their families.
Marty seemed happiest when he was sitting around sipping a glass of Merlot, telling stories about the old days in New Jersey and debating the details with Sara. Family and friends were always entertained as Marty recounted those stories in his off-hand, inimitable style.
He especially enjoyed describing the day he met the beautiful, sixteen-year-old Sara Tosone at the Roller Rink in Montclair, New Jersey and quickly cleared away the competition by showing off his smooth skating moves. Within weeks, he impulsively had Sara’s name tattooed on his arm. Ever the showman, Marty would demonstrate for his grandchildren the tricks that won him a Yo-Yo Championship in Montclair at age fourteen. Marty relished the telling of how he and Sara navigated Mexico City with no knowledge of Spanish when they traveled there to watch Marty Jr. run in the 1968 Olympics. His story of how he happened to buy a monkey in a bar as a pet for his son Stephen became a family classic.
Marty was known as a committed golfer who played into his nineties, and he was always happy to be asked about his four holes-in-one. His passion for the Florida Gators extended beyond football and basketball to include women’s softball in his later years. He was a connoisseur of comedy TV, from Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason to Cheers and Seinfeld. But most of all, Marty will be remembered as the loyal owner of only one kind of car: long, plush Cadillacs.
Those who were lucky enough to know him will always be warmed by their memories of Marty Liquori, Sr. He was a good man, and he did it his way.
He is survived by Sara, his wife of 74 years, and his four children: Marty Liquori, Jr. (Debra Main) of Gainesville, Florida; Lynne Liquori Brown (Jim) of Malvern, Pennsylvania; Stephen Liquori (Martha) of South Hamilton, Massachusetts; and Genevieve Liquori of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
He is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Michael Liquori (Soledad); Connor Main (Emily); Meredith Main Sa`(Manoel); Patrick Brown (Michelle); Christopher Liquori; Laura Brown Trelease (Brendan); Peter Liquori; Rachel Byrne; and Jamie Byrne and by his four great-grandchildren: Mateo Main Sa`; James Brown; Emma Brown; and Lucia Main Sa`, with another on the way.
He was predeceased by his four siblings: Dolores Liquori Dopart (Stanley); Nan Liquori Jackson; Joseph Liquori (Georgiana); and Louis Liquori (Dolores).
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Any man who is the father of the great runner Marty Liquori jr., has my greatest respect. God bless you, in your life, and your family. You persevered during America's most challenging times. Enjoy your peaceful rest in heaven.