Gilbert A. (Tony) Marciel

Gilbert A. "Tony" Marciel, 59, of Mechanicsburg and formerly of Rhode Island, died Sunday, May 25, 2014 in his home after a ten year battle with liver cancer. His wife was with him.
Born November 3, 1954 in Ft. Riley, KS, he was a son of the late Arthur and Mary Silveira Marciel. His family settled in Newport, RI after his father left the Army. This is where he met his wife, formerly Wendy Smith, and where both of his daughters were born.
Tony served in the Army National Guard for 17 years, 14 of them in Rhode Island where he attained the rank of 1st Lt. After moving to Pennsylvania he joined the PA ANG as a SSgt. and served three years before being honorably discharged. His favorite army years were those when he worked hands-on with his men.
In the early days he worked as a cook in local Newport restaurants, most notably Christie's, which was a favorite with the yachting crowd every summer. Tony attended Johnson and Wales Culinary School and enjoyed cooking for his family and friends especially his Sour Cream Apple Pie, everyone's favorite holiday must. Tony left the restaurant business and became cook and mate on a private yacht that traveled the East Coast. The yacht was chartered by the America's Cup Committee for the 1980 Cup race in Newport. The boat hosted dinners for the international racing teams. The meals were prepared and served by Tony and his wife. The highlights of Tony's career on the yacht were meeting Ted Turner and being a part of an international event held locally that very few had the chance to actually watch. In his next career move, Tony began working at the Newport Shipyard as a painter. He then went to Electric Boat where they built submarines for the Navy. After 15 years at the shipyards, Tony became a long distance truck driver and drove for 17 years before retiring due to his health. During his last year and a half of driving his wife and family pets joined him on the road and they traveled throughout New England, upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
Tony and his wife loved the ocean, swimming, hiking, music, reading, their dogs, traveling and ballroom dancing. Tony liked woodworking and building items for their home. Being by the ocean with their daughters was his favorite way to spend time.
Gilbert is survived by his wife of 36 years, Wendy L. Marciel of Mechanicsburg; two daughters, Amanda Deaner of Carlisle and Samantha Wilbur (and her husband Joshua) of New Cumberland; one sister, Judy Fitzgerald of Newport, RI and two grandchildren, Matthew Marciel-Deaner and Kenli Wilbur. He was preceded in death by his brother, Arthur Marciel.
A memorial open house will be planned for a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 219 North Hanover Street Carlisle, PA.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Penn State Cancer Institute at Hershey Medical Center, PO Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033.
To sign the guestbook visit www.hoffmanroth.com.