Donald Victor Mariutto's Obituary
MARIUTTO Mariutto, Donald V., 81, passed away May 14 at home surrounded by a loving
family. Don was born September 25, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA to Phyllis R. and Victor L. Mariutto.
Don attended Citrus Grove elementary and junior high schools, and later Miami Senior High,
where his father installed the tile in 1924. Don was captain of the 1948 Miami High football
team, and received an athletic scholarship to the University of Miami where he was the
Hurricanes’ starting right guard for three years, and co-captain in 1952. Don studied Business
Administration, and was recognized as the football player with the highest grades while at UM.
An ROTC cadet commander, Don was named a distinguished military graduate, and served in
Korea with the U.S. Air Force. He later became commander of the 9013 Air Force Information
Squadron, and retired as Colonel in the USAF reserves, honored with the distinguished Legion
of Merit Medal.
After Korea, Don joined his father and brother in building Mariutto and Sons into one of the
largest ceramic tile and marble contracting firms in Florida. Don served as president of the Tile
Contractors Association of America and the Miami Builders Exchange. In 1981 he received the
Cesery Award, the highest honor presented in the American tile industry.
Don loved the University of Miami, and was a founding member of the UM Athletic Federation,
today known as the Hurricane Club. He served on the UM Board of Trustees for six years as
alumni representative. A member of Iron Arrow and ODK, he was also a UM Ibis Founder and
established the Mariutto family scholarship, awarded each year to the Hurricanes football player
with the highest academics. As president of the UM Sports Hall of Fame Committee, he worked
to preserve the University’s athletic history, salvaging treasured items including the historic
Seminole War Canoe trophy. He also led the effort to endow the Walter Kichefski football
scholarship. Don was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Don is survived by his loving wife Kathleen, brother Eugene (Simone), sons Donald (Mary)
and Michael (Jissy), stepdaughters Susan Connell, Patrice (Michael) Gimenez, Lisa DeMahy
and Beth (Ken) Laurence, grandchildren Jennifer, Anthony, Stephanie, Travis, David, Danielle,
Robert, Matthew, Nicolas, Nicole, Daniel, Cristian and Tomas, great-grandchild Taylor and
a great many cherished friends. Family will receive friends 7pm – 9pm Thursday at Van Orsdel
Coral Gables Chapel, 4600 SW 8th Street. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated
10am Friday at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 7303 SW 64th Street, Miami.
Interment to follow at Woodlawn Park North Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame, 5821 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL
33146.
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