Mario Calbi

Mario Calbi, a devoted husband, beloved father of six, and a pillar in the lives of many, passed away at the age of 70 on February 17th, 2025 in Seabrook, South Carolina.

Born January 6th, 1955 in the Bronx, NY, Mario would spend most of his life in New Jersey.

For Mario, connection was everything. He would grow up in a tight-knit household with his mother, sister, and 4 brothers, teaching him the importance of family, a value he would cherish his whole life long. For decades after, Sundays would mean family dinner at his Mother’s house, a place of comfort and love. During his high school years at Becton Regional, he would forge deep, life-long friendships that would carry through to this day.

A man of ambition, he held an array of jobs to support himself and his loved ones in his youth. He was no stranger to odd jobs, ranging from early-morning milkman to vacuum salesman. He even tested his luck as an oil rig worker off the Louisiana coast.

For Mario, no job was too small, and no opportunity unworthy. Eventually, he’d find his calling working an ice cream truck under his mentor, Mr. Garcia. After taking over the routes years later, he’d grow this one truck into a distribution company whose reach spanned the tristate area. Festival Ice Cream, recognized by its cheerful Red Balloon, would service businesses, events, and local communities for decades.

Outside of his work, Mario was a loving father who cherished nothing more than spending meaningful time with his family. He understood the importance of being present, and took every opportunity to see friends and loved ones whenever he could. Whether it was a chat over a matcha latte, or lunch over some toasted (read: burnt) bread, Mario never passed up the chance to stay in touch.

As an avid baseball fan, spring and summertime meant you could find him rooting on the Bronx Bombers in front of the TV, or through the announcers on AM radio. Fall meant football, and even if it was tough going as a Jets fan, he loved watching the game with his boys. He’d take every opportunity to go to sporting games and broadway shows with his family, crafting memories to last a lifetime. Obsessed with health and fitness, Mario prided himself on his plant-based diet and stringent workout regiment. He was a man of discipline and drive, and that carried through to every aspect of his life. He loved action and thriller books, sampling his wife's latest baked goods, and driving way too fast. A fan of the oldies, you can still picture him closing his eyes as he listened to the sounds of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable”, or Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind”.

He is survived by his devoted wife Marian Calbi, his loving sons Mark and Alexander Calbi, his wonderful step-children Connor, Zoe, Bryn and Madison Van Caugherty, his former wife Linda Susan Calbi, and his brothers Richard, Julius and Alexander Calbi.

He was predeceased by his mother, Josephine, and his siblings Carmella and Michael.

We invite friends, family, and anyone whose lives Mario touched to join us on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ. For more information, please visit www.vpfh.com.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, February 22nd at 11 am at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street in Ridgewood, NJ.

A cremation will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the American Heart Association.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mario Calbi, please visit our floral store.