Vito Mare

Vito Mare, age 91, of Granger, Indiana, passed away on March 30, 2026.

He was born on August 29, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to Giusappi Mare and Pellegrino Mare, both of whom preceded him in death. On September 8, 1964, in New York, Vito married the love of his life, Belle Greenfield, who also preceded him in death.

Vito is survived by his two sons, Joseph (Stacey) Mare of Granger, Indiana, and Stephen (Julia) Mare of Lovettsville, Virginia; four grandchildren, Cygnus, Jaxon, and Samantha Mare, all of Lovettsville, Virginia, and Brandon Mare of Granger, Indiana; and his sister, Filomena Fitzgerald of Queens, New York.

In addition to his parents and beloved wife, he was preceded in death by his sister, Stefania DiGiacomo, and his four brothers, Anthony Mare, Americo Mare, Pat Mare, and Philip Mare.

Vito was a devoted family man who found his greatest joy in spending time with his children and grandchildren, whom he cherished deeply. He was an avid New York Giants fan, enjoyed reading, golfing, and loved traveling the world with his late wife, creating countless memories along the way.

He also dedicated time to coaching peewee football, where he made a lasting impact on the lives of many young athletes. Known for his forward-thinking and inclusive spirit, Vito was the first coach in his league to welcome a girl onto the team and to have a mother serve as a coach. He fostered unity among his players by reminding them of their shared humanity, once having them rub their forearms together to show that, despite differences in appearance, “we are all the same—now play ball.” In many ways, he was ahead of his time.

In accordance with his wishes, Vito will be cremated and laid to rest alongside his beloved wife in New York.  In leau of flowers, please make all donations to St John the Baptist Catholic Church @ 3516 St.John’s Way, South Bend, IN 46628.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

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