Carlo Marinaro Jr.

Carlo was predeceased by his father Charles Marinaro, Mother Beatrice Roach, stepmother Jean Marinaro, sister Dolores Torre, and beloved sister Rose Simos. Carlo leaves behind his daughter, Lia Liann and her son, Andrew McAdams and great-granddaughters Skylar and Lynn McAndrews; his son Jason Paul (Emily) and grandson Ethan. Carlo Marinaro Jr., 76, died peacefully and surrounded by his children, daughter-in-law, and grandson on May 17th, 2025, in Tucson, AZ.

Carlo was born on April 29, 1949, in Long Beach, CA. He spent his adolescence working in his father’s 76 Union gas and auto repair station on Bellfower Blvd in Bellflower, CA. This created an intense passion for cars and led to his many years of drag racing with his Camero at Lyons Drag Strip in Long Beach where he was called “The Judge.”

Carlo joined the United States Air Force in 1972 and was trained to be an F-4 Phantom mechanic. After the Air Force, he went into the automotive repair business, starting with his own shop, moving on to help create Econo Lube ‘n Tune, and finally he went on to work with Precision Tune Auto Care and guided their expansion into the West Coast for over 30 years. Carlo was a master mechanic and achieved all ASE certifications available during his esteemed career. He was also a vocational educator in the state of California for Automotive Mechanics.   

Carlo’s life journey took him throughout Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Virginia, and around the world including England, Singapore, and India. He loved to travel and cherished the relationships he made with those he worked with. He considered many of the franchisees and corporate colleagues at Precision Tune Auto Care to be his family.

Carlo retired in 2020 but even in retirement, he continued to work and travel part-time for Precision Tune Auto Care corporate office and franchisees on the West Coast. His energy and passion for the automotive repair business had no end. Carlo had a knack for getting things done that many others could not. He embodied the “if there’s a will, there’s a way” and “can’t never did ‘nothing” idioms.

 The birth of his daughter, Lia Liann on September 4,1966 and his son, Jason Paul on December 24, 1979, were the two most important days of his life. He deeply loved his children and grandchildren and instilled in them courage, tenacity and passion in their life’s pursuits, and most importantly, faith and love in Jesus Christ. His extended family, Lenore, Pete, and Ashlee Rudat also knew the warmth of his love and care.

He maintained lifelong friendships with Rick (Frenchie), McKeehen and Chris Fitzpatrick and their children, Andy and Claudia Spawn, and Rick Harsh.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.

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