Marc Pittarelli's Obituary
Marc Pittarelli, age 64, returned to the communion of Saints on Monday, March 24, 2025. He made this transition while at the Friends of Dorothy Catholic Worker House cared for by the love and compassion of his wife and beloved community. For seven years Marc battled Posterior Cortical Atrophy, a brutal and rare form of dementia that stole from him his vision, motor function, speech, and eventually his life, but never his Spirit. Despite the struggle, he remained to the last day an amazing artist, husband, father and friend. He leaves with us a collection of sculpture and pastel landscapes of his beloved Block Island and a body artwork that was shown in galleries, art shows, and publications. His art remains a comfort and sign of his gift shared with our broken world.
Marc was born on January 7, 1961 to Anthony and the late Shirley Pittarelli. He graduated from Jamesville DeWitt High school and attended the Syracuse University Fine Arts Department. He retired as Vice-President of Sales from City Electric after 40 dedicated years. Marc was much loved and respected by employees and customers alike. Along with his wife, he loved hosting work trips in Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean where he would always be up for an outdoor adventure or a night of karaoke. They spent time every summer on Block Island in the little cottage on the cliff where he would find inspiration for future artworks.
Marc immediately fell in love with his beloved, Carla Berrigan. They married in August of 2000 and began a life filled with abundant love and a desire to fill their lives with beauty and constant companionship. They never tired of being together.
Marc is survived by his wife, Carla; his daughter, Sarah (Ahmad) Ghannam; his sons, Louis Pittarelli and Layvon Washington; his grandchildren, Khalil and Riyad; his father, Anthony Pittarelli; his sisters, Teresa Dzelinski, Anne Impellizeri; his brother, Michael Pittarelli (Beth Rice); along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A funeral mass in celebration of Marc’s life will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. in St. Lucy’s Church, 432 Gifford St. Syracuse.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Friends of Dorothy Catholic Worker, 212 Wayne St. Syracuse, NY 13203 or the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Worker, 26 Clark St. Hartford, CT 06120.
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