Marian Gargano

Marian Gargano passed away peacefully on August 17, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born to John and Ann Saitta in Brooklyn, New York, Marian was a committed mother, trailblazing professional, and a good friend to many. She married Larry Piovano and together they raised their two children Larry Jr and Jill, until later divorcing. Determined to move her life forward, Marian began working with a small Long Island cosmetic company, where she quickly became one of the top sales representatives through her sales talent and determination, helping women to connect with their beauty. After her children left for college, Marian embraced a new chapter in her life becoming the first female sales broker at Merrill Lynch where she broke barriers in the financial service industry, despite only having a high school diploma. She later went on to become Vice President at Shearson Lehman Brothers. Her career was marked by gutsiness, perseverance, and a pioneering spirit. In her retirement, Marian moved to Atlantic City, where she sold timeshares and frequented the casinos. Her other interests included her family, friends and the stock market. She then moved to Arizona in 2004, to be close to her first grandchild. Marian was a strong, vibrant, no nonsense, independent, elegant woman with exquisite taste for beautiful things. She was the oldest of three sisters, predeceased by Marcy Pellechia and Francine Andrews. The sisters collectively had hundreds of Italian sayings that were enthusiastically passed down to their next generations. Marian is survived by her daughter Jill Piovano and grandchildren, Jamie Byrne Piovano and Leo Byrne Piovano. Her legacy is one of resilience and courage. Her spirited and feisty presence will be missed every day.