Obituary of Albert J. Marra

Albert J. Marra, Sr. of #1 Satellite Circle, passed away Saturday April 30, 2011 at the Absolut Care of Allegany following an illness. Mr. Marra was born on September 5, 1924 in Olean to Frank & Theresa Tarsia Marra. On May 8, 1954, he married his wife of almost 57 years, Virginia M. Brockitt who survives. Mr. Marra was a 1942 graduate of Olean High School. He was a corporal in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater of Operation during WW II from 1942-1946. Mr. Marra was the owner of Marra Brothers Chrysler dealership in Olean. Marra Bros. Motor Company was started in 1921 by brothers Anthony and Joseph Marra. They ran the business together, selling Stars, Durants, Desotos and eventually Chryslers and Plymouths. In 1946 Albert was discharged from the Army and started working for his two uncles. In 1957, when he became a partner in the company. Upon his Uncle Joseph's death in March 1972, Al bought out his share of the business. Anthony and Albert worked together as partners until 1975 when Anthony retired and Al became the sole proprietor of the company. In 1977 Al's son Jim joined the business and they ran it together until the Chrysler Corporation bankruptcy in 2009. Upon the restructuring of Chrysler Corporation, there was a reduction of nearly 800 dealers and Marra Bros. was unfortunately one of them. In July 2009 Al retired at age 84. Mr. Marra was a member St. Mary of the Angels Church. He owned season tickets to the St Bonaventure Basketball from the beginning when they played at Olean Armory to currently. He was also an avid Yankees fan. Surviving Mr. Marra besides his wife Virginia in the Bradford Manor, Bradford are one son, A. James Marra of Olean; one daughter, Patricia A. (Steven) Ragan of Spencerport, NY; and one granddaughter, Ashley M. Ragan. He is predeceased by one grandson Jeremy J. Ragan and two brothers Antonio & John Marra. Friends will be received on Thursday May 12, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM in the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street, Olean. Funeral Services will be held on Friday May 13, 2011 beginning with a Prayer Service in the Funeral Home at 9:30 AM followed by and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. Mary of the Angel's Church. The Rev. Gregory J. Dobson, Pastor, will celebrate. Burial with full military honors, accorded by the Allegany American Charles Harbel Post #892 Ritual Team, will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Honor Flight Rochester, Inc. PO Box 23581, Rochester, New York 14692, http://www.honorflightrochester.org/. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the button above.