Thomas Zarrilli

Thomas G “Tom” Zarrilli a warm, kind, caring, selfless man, with a bigger than life persona, who
impacted the lives of everyone he touched in an extraordinary way, sadly passed away on Sunday,
February 19th, 2023 in Brandon, Florida at the age of 91 years young.
Tom was married to two amazing woman for more than 64 years, who he is preceded in death by, his
first wife Amelia “Millie”; and his second wife Florence “Flo”;
Tom is survived by his 3 children Guy Zarrilli (Mary) Rob Zarrilli (Marlen) and Ida Margiotta (Joseph) and
his 5 Grandchildren Rob Jr. (Shay) Natalie (Ryan) Julianne (Matty) Danielle (Matt) Michael and 5 great
grandchildren Brooklyn, Daisy, Lucy, Bella and Liv and preceded in death by great granddaughter
Amelia.
Tom was also a loving step-parent and loved dearly by his step children, Jack, Michael, Pam and Sue and
step grandchildren, Heather, Gara, Carolina, Cassie, Courtney, Amanda, Philip, Louis, Jack, Jessica,
Michael, Alli, Chris, and John. He also was blessed to have from his beautiful blended family 17 great
grandchildren.
Born August 29th, 1931, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York Tom fell in love with his soul mate and
childhood sweetheart Millie at the ripe old age of 11, who he later married and lived a beautiful full life
with for 44 years until her death in 1996.  It’s a well-kept secret that Milie loved Tom so much that from
heaven she handpicked a guardian angel named Florence, his second wife, to love and care for him
during their 20-year union. Flo, Tom’s second wife left us in 2017.
Tom spent 5 years in the Army and reserves serving his country with an exemplary record. Upon leaving
the service he joined Murray Manufacturers where he climbed the ranks quickly to Forman then
Customer Service supervisor.

It was next that he followed his true passion in life as a gourmet Cook when he opened a neighborhood
Italian Restaurant where he offered the best service and food in all of Williamsburg. People would travel
for miles around for Toms signature hero’s and culinary delights for more than 13 years. Tom was a great
cook, his Meatballs were so good that some of his great grandchildren called him “Grandpa meatball”
Later in life he worked for IBM as a hospitality expert greeting the who’s who of NY City. He often talked
about the star-studded clientele that he guided through the Art Gallery like Tony Bennett, Al Pacino,
Robert Redford and Tony Randell who he got to know on a first name basis. In retirement Tom delivered
baked goods to businesses in queens and Long Island starting at 4 in the morning with his signature
smile from ear to ear, Frankly I don’t think Tom worked a day in his life because he loved everything he
did and everything he did he did with a purpose.
Every morning until his very last days on earth, while still in bed, he would do 20 minutes of leg
exercises, he called them “cala stetics” he would then say his rosary while riding his mini cycle, exercise
was his second passion in life. Of course, the highlight of his day was shooting baskets. His goal was 50
baskets every day. He would tell his children, “I was good today, I could have taken on BRON” he meant
Lebron of course, “I Made 50 baskets in 33 minutes” he timed and counted everything.
It is said that people will forget what you said, and people will forget what you did but people will never
ever forget how you made them feel, well Tom made everyone feel like a million dollars. His smile was
infectious, and his positive attitude was contagious. He loved his family unconditionally and couldn’t do
enough for them and wanted absolutely nothing in return.
All people Die but not all people live. Tom packed so much life into his 91 years on earth and he was
Happy with so little as long as everyone around him got what they needed and wanted he was happy.
He would go to bed at night saying, “good night see ya in the morning, God Willing.” Ya’ see he wasn’t
afraid of dying, he was afraid of being a burden to anyone. He was often heard saying, “Who’s better
than me?” then answering his own rhetorical question saying, “NOBODY”
Know this for certain, God has placed many beautiful, wonderful people on this earth however, “a finer
Human being than Tom Zarrilli will never be known”