O. Mario Favorito of Concord, MA died at his summer residence in the early morning of Friday, September 4, 2026. His wife, Corina and daughters, Maria and Laura Grace were with him at his bedside. He was 88 years old.

Mario was born on Union Street in Brooklyn, New York on April 16, 1938 to Joseph and Grace (Pasini) Favorito and grew up on President Street in what was then the Italian neighborhood of South Brooklyn. There he attended Sacred Heart and St. Stephen Parochial Grammar School and St. Augustine High School. As a boy Mario, already curious and adventurous, would often wake early before school and travel by subway to exercise the trail horses in the Brooklyn and New York City parks, an uncommon job for a city boy but one he loved. On weekends, he would explore the city - visiting its museums and libraries, and sneaking off to the beach at Coney Island with friends.

In high school he competed on the cross country track team, was sports editor for the school newspaper and graduated at the top of his class. At age 17, Mario was invited to join New York’s Seventh Regiment - the nation’s first National Guard unit - serving as a reservist. In 1957, his unit was called on to guard Queen Elizabeth II during her first State Visit to the United States as Monarch.

Mario, his sights set on becoming a lawyer, earned his undergraduate degree from St. Francis College in just three years, majoring in economics and philosophy, and went on to earn his law degree at St. John’s University Law School where he served as editor of the Law Review. Founded to provide an elite education to those often excluded from legal circles, St. John’s emphasized ethics and public service - values that Mario carried throughout his life and career.

Upon graduation, Mario worked in the offices of Robert M. Morgenthau, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. After passing the bar, Mario joined many young people heading to Washington, D.C. to serve in the new Kennedy Administration, accepting a position at the Department of the Navy Office of the General Counsel where he worked on the Polaris Nuclear Submarine program. It was at that time that he met his wife, Corina who was working in the U.S. Office of Education. Mario and Corina married in July of 1966 settling for a short time in West Hartford, Connecticut where Mario had taken a new position at United Aircraft working on the development of high speed trains. During that time both their daughters were born. Shortly after, Mario interviewed and was hired as general counsel for a division of W.R. Grace & Co. in Cambridge, MA and in 1970 he moved to Concord with his wife and young family.

One of the many things that drew Mario to Concord was the spirit of civic voluntarism in town, the opportunity to participate in local government and the notion that he could help make things happen, an idea that felt remarkable to a boy from Brooklyn. It was this spirit that kept Mario and Corina in Concord and inspired Mario to fill out the town’s “green card” saying he’d like to volunteer. Not long after, he answered a call from then Town Manager Paul Flynn to serve as a member of the Bus Transportation Committee, helping to provide free public transit in Concord. From there he served on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. Ultimately he went on to serve for more than a quarter century as a Trustee of the Concord Free Public Library Corporation, completing his tenure by writing the official History documenting the Library’s last 50 years which was published as part of its Sesquicentennial in 2025. He loved serving as a trustee and valued the partnerships and friendships he built during his time doing so.

Mario enjoyed life, good company and telling stories, often sharing tales about his travels. His work took him all over the world.  From Hagia Sofia in Istanbul to the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, he always took time to explore, camera in hand, wherever he went. Mario liked hiking through the White Mountains, summiting Mt. Washington several times, and loved spending time with Corina, walking through Great Meadows in Concord or along Sachuest Point in Newport. He was at his most relaxed during summers “down the beach” in Rhode Island. He taught his daughters to sail at a young age, spending many weekends together sailing in Narragansett Bay, relaxing on the deck of the family beach house, or donning a crazy hat to take charge of the grill during 4th of July barbecues. Mario adored his grandchildren with whom he shared his interests in music, history, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Mario is survived by Corina (Vitale) his beloved wife of 60 years, his daughters Maria, her husband James Raffel and granddaughter Sofia and Laura Grace and her husband Chris Baffa and grandson Alessandro. He was preceded in death by his parents, Grace (Pasini) and Joseph Favorito and his brother Vincent Favorito.

Family and friends will gather for visiting hours in Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Thursday, September 10th from 5 to 8 pm. Mario’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Irene Parish, 181 East Street, Carlisle on Friday, September 11th at 11 am. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord.

Concord’s Town Flag will fly at half-staff on Thursday, September 10, 2026 in honor of Mario being recognized as Concord’s Honored Citizen in 2024.

The family asks that you consider making a donation to The Concord Free Public Library or to your local community library in Mario’s honor.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.