Jack N. Marsella

Jack Nick Marsella, 89, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on January 4, 2026.

Jack was born on July 30, 1936 in Indianapolis, IN to Frank P. Marsella and Ida Marie Fusaro. The youngest of two boys, Jack was raised in the Catholic faith surrounded by his extended Italian family. His childhood home was just down the street from his father’s Texaco gas station in Broad Ripple. His parents moved there shortly after their wedding and his mother was able to remain there for the next 70 years. In a home with just one bathroom, Jack lived with his immediate family as well as his aunt and uncle. With “two moms” always in the kitchen, their home became the place to be on Sunday evenings for all their cousins and extended family. It was a house full of love, laughter and lots of wonderful Italian food.

After graduation from Broad Ripple High School in 1954, Jack stayed close to home and spent two years at Butler University. By 1957 he transferred to Indiana University where he majored in Business marketing, graduating in 1961. He fondly remembered his days at IU and was a life-long IU sports fan, spending many years as a season ticket holder for IU football.

With his focus on sales and marketing, Jack began his lifelong career in sales. He quickly landed at WIFE-AM radio station as an account executive and worked his way up to sales manager and eventually Vice President of Sales.

In 1974 Jack went to WNTS radio of Indianapolis and KCRO of Omaha, Nebraska, where he was general manager and executive vice president, respectively. In 1983 Jack was offered the local sales manager position with WIBC/WKLR radio stations where he eventually became national sales manager. By 1988 Jack was drawn to his good friend, Jeff Smulyan of Emmis Communications, to become the co-publisher of Indianapolis Monthly magazine. Jack spent the next 13 years as EVP of their publishing division adding magazines in Cincinnati, Texas, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

Over his career, Jack has been Vice President of the Indianapolis Radio Broadcasters Association; a member of the City and Regional Magazine Association; a past board member of both the Indianapolis Speech and Hearing Center and the 500 Festival Association; and twice named in “Who’s Who in Media and Marketing” in the Indianapolis Business Journal.

It was during his time at WIFE radio, that Jack met his future wife, Shirley Golay. She was the love of his life and they married in 1965 and enjoyed a wonderful 58 years of marriage. He forever referred to Shirley as “his bride” and was by her side until her passing in 2023. Together, they raised three very active boys. Jack loved to watch them play sports and was their biggest fan. Later in life he was blessed with 11 grandchildren. He made it a special point to go to as many of his grandchildren’s games as well and root them on in their sports. Football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, track and field . . . you name it and he was there!

Jack was a devoted husband, loving father, doting grandfather, amazing friend and special mentor to all whom had the pleasure of working with him. He had a passion for people, a spirit that would never quit and a drive to be the best that he could be. He used humor to masterfully win people over and diffuse a tense situation. He would give you a wry smile and a pointed one liner and you couldn’t help but to laugh. This was a skill he maintained all the way to the end as he won over his nursing staff and aids and was always the life of the party.

Jack is survived by his three sons Dave (Patti) Marsella, Jeff Marsella and Mike (Kristi) Marsella and 11 beautiful grandchildren: Nick, Delaney, Kelly, John, Danielle, Joey, Ryan, Emma, Ellie, Jack, Lexi and 1 great grandchild: Sawyer. Jack was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Shirley, his loving parents Jack and Ida, his brother Frank and his sister-in-law Sandra.

A visitation for Jack will be held Friday, January 23, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or online at www.alz.org.

Arrangements are entrusted to Flanner Buchanan-Broad Ripple.