Richard D. Marra Sr.

RICHARD DOMENIC MARRA Sr.

Richard D. “Dick” Marra, age 86, of Springfield, passed away on December 5, 2014 at home, after a lengthy battle with bone cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

Dick was born in Philadelphia on June 24, 1928. He graduated from Yeadon High School in 1946 and attended Villanova University from 1946 to 1948. Dick married Claire Marie Harkins on March 31, 1951. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary earlier this year.

Mr. Marra’s father, Domenico Marra, ran a successful construction business in Delaware County, mostly building concrete foundations. Dick started working for his father at age 15, gaining experience in the construction business. After two years at Villanova, he decided that his true calling was in the construction business and began working full-time with his father and brother, renaming the business “Domenico Marra & Sons.” In 1968 he started his own business “Richard Marra Builder” in Clifton Heights. He primarily built single-family homes, apartments and townhouses throughout the region. Two beautiful examples of his work are the developments of Trent Manor in West Norriton and The Meadows in East Goshen.

Dick was a passionate golfer. He was a life-long member of the Rolling Green Golf Club and was the Club President in 1983. In 1973, Dick hit a hole-in-one on Rolling Green’s third hole. He finally won the Llanerch Country Club’s Member Guest Tournament in 2007 after playing in the tournament for 40 years. Dick was also a former member of the Overbrook Golf Club and hosted five wedding receptions there.

He enjoyed traveling and that included trips to Florida and The Caribbean. His favorite trip was when he and Claire traveled back to Italy, the land of his ancestors. That trip included a journey to the Abruzzi region of Italy to visit a church built by his father and uncles. Upon their approach to the church, which was situated at the top of a hill in the center of the village and was closed and abandoned for over 20 years, the church bells mysteriously started ringing.

Summers were spent at the Jersey Shore where Dick frequented Longport, Stone Harbor and Avalon. Mr. Marra was also the President of the Rotary Club of Clifton Heights in the late 50’s and an usher at Saint Dorothy’s Church for decades. Among his other passions, Dick enjoyed a fine wine, a good cigar and a challenging game of Gin Rummy. He was an avid Saint Joseph’s Men’s Basketball fan and a former season ticket holder. Perhaps his greatest passion and his utmost pleasure was his large and loving family. Family gatherings, usually numbering over 30 people were a common occurrence at the Marra house, a house he and his father built, overlooking the golf course. Golfers playing the third hole could look over and see Dick’s house, proudly displaying an American flag and a flag with the Saint Joseph’s hawk.

Dick is predeceased by his cherished wife of 63 years, the late Claire Marie Harkins who passed away in June. He is survived by his six loving children: Denise M. McNeill (Brian), Judy M. Martelli (Philip), Richard D. Marra Jr. (the late Nora), Mary Ellen David (Edward, Esquire), Claire M. Ryan (the late Joseph, Esquire), and Sheila M. Grubb (Joseph); his 13 adoring grandchildren: Megan McNeill Trost (Keith), Brian McNeill Jr., William McNeill, Philip Martelli (Meghan), James Martelli (Julie), Elizabeth Martelli Jeffries (Patrick), Joseph Grubb III, Garrett Grubb, Mac Ryan, Matthew Grubb, Richard Marra, Joseph Ryan, John Marra and his seven treasured great-grandchildren: Claire Trost, Nora Trost, Philip Martelli, Marra Martelli, Brynley Martelli, Avery Martelli and Madalyn Jeffries. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary Ellen Grady and numerous nieces and nephews. Dick was predeceased by his siblings: Mae Destefano, Vincent Marra, Evelyn Teti and Josephine Marra.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Viewing on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the D’Anjolell Memorial Home of Broomall; 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008, and also to his Funeral Mass on Thursday morning at 11:00 A.M. at Saint Dorothy’s Church; Township Line and Burmont Road, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania 19026. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery; Gulph Road and Matsonford Road, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to Coaches vs. Cancer c/o Phil Martelli and Fran Dunphy, Saint Joseph’s University, Men’s Basketball Office; 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19131, would be appreciated.

Visitation Information

Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Time: 06:00 pm

End Time: 08:00 pm

D’Anjolell Memorial Home of Broomall

2811 West Chester Pike

Broomall, PA 19008

Service Information

Date: Thursday, December 11, 2014

Time: 11:00 am

St. Dorothy Church

Township Line and Burmont Road

Drexel Hill, PA 19026

Cemetery Information

Date: Thursday, December 11, 2014

Calvary Cemetery

Gulph Road and Matsonford Road

Conshohocken, PA 19428