Donald V. Mariutto, 81, passed away May 14 at home surrounded by a loving family. Don was born September 25, 1930 in Pittsburgh, PA, to Phyllis R. and Victor L. Mariutto. Don attended Citrus Grove elementary and junior high schools, and later Miami Senior High, where his father installed the tile in 1924. Don was captain of the 1948 Miami High football team, and received an athletic scholarship to the University of Miami where he was the Hurricanes’ starting right guard for three years, and co-captain in 1952. 

Donald V. Mariutto, passed away May 14 at the age of 81. Mariutto (pictured on right) received the Cesery Award from the TCAA in 1981 for outstanding service to the American tile industry.

 

Don studied Business Administration, and was recognized as the football player with the highest grades while at UM. An ROTC cadet commander, Don was named a distinguished military graduate, and served in Korea with the U.S. Air Force. He later became commander of the 9013 Air Force Information Squadron, and retired as Colonel in the USAF reserves, honored with the distinguished Legion of Merit Medal.

After Korea, Don joined his father and brother in building Mariutto and Sons into one of the largest ceramic tile and marble contracting firms in Florida.  Don served as president of the Tile Contractors Association of America and the Miami Builders Exchange. In 1981 he received the Cesery Award, the highest honor presented in the American tile industry.

Don loved the University of Miami, and was a founding member of the UM Athletic Federation, today known as the Hurricane Club. He served on the UM Board of Trustees for six years as alumni representative. A member of Iron Arrow and ODK, he was also a UM Ibis Founder and established the Mariutto family scholarship, awarded each year to the Hurricanes football player with the highest academics. As president of the UM Sports Hall of Fame Committee, he worked to preserve the University’s athletic history, salvaging treasured items including the historic Seminole War Canoe trophy. He also led the effort to endow the Walter Kichefski football scholarship. Don was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.

Don is survived by his loving wife Kathleen, brother Eugene (Simone), sons Donald (Mary) and --owners of Mediterranea-- stepdaughters Susan Connell, Patrice (Michael) Gimenez, Lisa DeMahy and Beth (Ken) Laurence, grandchildren Jennifer, Anthony, Stephanie, Travis, David, Danielle, Robert, Matthew, Nicolas, Nicole, Daniel, Cristian and Tomas, great-grandchild Taylor and a great many cherished friends.

Donald's son, Michael, is the founder and owner of Mediterranea. His other son, Donald, joined the firm in 2011 and is director of marketing.