Community Semper Fidelis, Colonel Vianello Colonel Gerald Anthony Vianello

Mariemont says Arrivederci to a pillar of our community. Gerald “Jerry” Anthony Vianello passed away on January 11 at the age of 79, surrounded by his entire family.

Jerry was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Purcell High School in 1964, going on to attend The University of Cincinnati on a swimming and diving scholarship. He and his team captured the Missouri Valley Conference Championship all four years. Jerry capped his diving career by finaling in both the 1- and 3-meter springboard NCAA Championships. Jerry graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a B.S. in Education in 1969. While at UC, Jerry was part of the ROTC program. He also met his future bride, Suzi McKee Vianello, and they were married in 1970.

After graduating, Jerry continued his career with the USMC by completing OCS in Quantico, Va. Jerry and Suzi were then stationed in Pensacola, Fla., for flight school and then returned to Quantico, Va., for infantry. They went on to Camp LeJeune, NC, and then Norfolk, Va., where Jerry served on the USS Columbus for one year.

(2/10/1946-1/11/2025)

Jerry and Suzi later settled down in Mariemont, Ohio, where he served as a senior officer of the USMC reserve center. Over the years, Jerry served in active-duty tours in Panama while guarding the canal, throughout the Caribbean Sea/islands, Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Jerry was activated during the Desert Storm War to Quantico, Va. Overall, Jerry served a total of 33 years in the USMC and earned the rank of a full Colonel.

Jerry held a distinguished civilian career in Human Resources with Avon, Keebler, Intermec and Waddington North America.

As a selfless lifelong volunteer, Jerry served on numerous Village committees and planning commissions while living and raising his family in Mariemont. He even helped to build the tot lot. Jerry was also an EMT volunteer for Mariemont prior to the establishment of their fire department.

He might be most known for his volunteer work for over 40 years at Mariemont High School giving countless hours while coaching diving, tutoring students, and filming for the football program. For all of his volunteer work, Jerry was inducted into the MHS Hall of Fame in 2004. Jerry also coached numerous youth sports and was one of Mariemont’s greatest fans supporting athletes.

Jerry also loved to be a part of the Cincinnati community by staying connected to his roots at Purcell HS, being a member of University of Cincinnati’s “C” Club, being part of the 2/10 birthday club and a member of Cincinnati’s branch of the Sons of Italy.

After serving and residing in Mariemont for almost 50 years, Jerry was proudly awarded a key to the Village in 2019 and was proclaimed Mariemont’s “Citizen of the Year” this past May, 2024.

Jerry’s biggest pride and joy of his life, however, was his beloved family. Jerry is survived by his wife Suzi, with whom he shared almost 55 wonderful years of marriage. Loving father of Stephen (Sally) Vianello, Brian (Brandy) Vianello and Rebecca Vianello (Lorne) Hlad. He adored his grandchildren Bailey, Alec, Alyssa, Talon, Demaree, and Hudson Vianello, and Brianna, Noah, and Luke Hlad. Dear brother of Donna (Richard) Neal. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert John Vianello and Elizabeth Ann Guy.

A celebration of Jerry’s life was held on Saturday, January 25th at Horizon Church, followed by United States Marine Corps Military Honors and a reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials be made to The Jerry Vianello Memorial Scholarship Fund, to benefit Mariemont graduates entering the armed forces, a service academy or ROTC program. Donations can be made at PNC Bank or online at https://tinyurl.com/VianelloDonate

Village photos credit: Steve Spooner me@mariemontstuff.com