Ricky Marini to lead Columbus Day Parade

September 20, 2023 at 11:11 p.m.

Enrico “Ricky” Marini

While Port Chester volunteer firefighters have been planning their 200^th anniversary parade, the Columbus Day Observance Committee has been putting together a procession that happens every year—the Columbus Day Parade.

They have named a grand marshal—Enrico “Ricky” Marini, the owner of Marini’s Deli on Willett Avenue for 28 years. He previously owned Vinny’s Pizza on North Main Street from 1985-1995.

Marini has been a resident of Port Chester ever since he came from Italy in 1969 at the age of 2. He started working at age 12 at Sunrise Pizza in Rye, where he met his wife Dorrie in 1981. They have been married for 37 years and have raised four children—Enrico Jr., Michael, Sabrina and Marc. They now also have three grandchildren: Giulietta, Mia and Vincenzo.

For the past 38 years, Marini has been generous with his time and material goods, helping and donating to local village and youth programs. It all started at Vinny’s Pizza when he helped the midget league football by setting up concession stands.

One of his biggest accomplishments was catering Neri’s 100^th anniversary BBQ at Lyon Park where he and his staff served more than 10,000 people. He has also done a BBQ at Shea Stadium for Fugi where they got to meet the Mets.

Throughout the years, Marini has received many plaques and awards from the NYS Assembly and Senate, Westchester County, the Village of Port Chester, Port Chester Fire Department, Town of Rye, Kiwanis Club, Sound Shore Youth Foundation and the Carmine Cerone Sportsmen Foundation. He was also recognized at a Gil Gordon Memorial Anti-Bullying Dinner and for his fundraising for Hurricane Katrina relief.

Marini enjoys fishing and boating and spending time with his family at their Upstate cabin.

Making his customers laugh and have a good time is also high on Marini’s list of priorities.

He will be recognized at the Port Chester-Rye Brook Columbus Day Celebration Dinner Dance on Saturday, Sept. 30 at Harrison Meadows Country Club.

Marini will lead the parade which will be held Sunday, Oct. 8 down Westchester Avenue, with marchers gathering at Hawthorne Avenue in Rye Brook at 1 p.m. and the procession kicking off at 2 p.m. It will meander down the Avenue and end on New Broad Street in Port Chester.

Before the parade, there will be a wreath laying at 9 a.m. at the statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus Park on Ryan Avenue followed by a flag raising at 9:15 a.m. at Liberty Square, corner of Main Street and Westchester Avenue.

--Jananne Abel