On July 25, 2023, Pastor Marino Burgos, passed away peacefully at home with his beloved wife, Martha Burgos Tejeda and his children and grandchildren at his side.

Marino and Martha married in 1968 and for 11 years resided in the Dominican Republic with their four children. During this time, Marino pastored multiple churches in several cities including Santo Domingo and Santiago De Los Caballeros. Due to his leadership and dynamic personality, he was promoted to Superintendent for his denomination. Although enjoying his position in D.R., Marino always aspired to have a greater impact. Therefore, in 1979 he was recruited to become the Lead Pastor at the Melrose Free Methodist Church in Miami-Dade County. He served the entire county, focusing on the most needed communities. In his career he impacted so many lives. Marino served his congregation, he coordinated local food banks, by delivering food items to church members and residents in need. He was compassionate and caring. On a weekly basis, he provided transportation to families that wanted to attend church. He had a love for people, visited the sick, and continued to serve others. Following his tenure in Miami, Marino decided to expand his reach in Florida and began a Hispanic congregation in Orlando and later expanded to Clermont. At the end of his career, he had provided more than 50 years of service.

In addition to dedicating his life to his ministry and his family, Marino's passion was gardening, planting, harvesting fruits, vegetables, etc., with the intention of recreating his childhood in the Dominican Republic. Using his "Dominican ingenuity"; which means he was using the quickest fix with whatever materials and supplies were the closest at the time (but not the safest or correct thing to do). His garden included starfruit, grapefruit, oranges, avocados, cherries, papaya, yucca, sweet potatoes, and many other exotic fruits and spices. He spent hours of his day in his yard and shared the fruit of his labor with everyone that visited his home. Another passion of his was spending time with family and friends playing dominoes. He was an avid player with a very competitive spirit and with the ability to distract others to win. He loved to have a house full of family members and friends, as he always shared a cup of coffee and his wife's famous Dominican cake.

Marino, the eldest of ten children, was born on September 1, 1942, to Francisco and Mercedes Burgos in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He graduated from "El Instituto Evangélico" in 1964, where he focused on Christian ministerial studies and established many lifelong friendships. In 1984 he earned a Masters Degree in Divinity from the N.Y. Technology Seminary. He was a man of integrity and always in search for the truth.

Marino is survived by his wife Martha (Tejeda) Burgos, and his four children: Jose Burgos, Marcos Burgos, Catherimarty (Cathy) Burgos, and Nicole Burgos-Powell. As well as their spouses Grace Santiago-Burgos and Orlando Powell. Grandchildren include Vanesa, Daniel, Danielle, Laura, Isabella, Genesis, Nicholas, and Victoria.

As mentioned, Marino is the eldest of ten children. They include Gladys, Olga (Blanca), Ester, Francisca (Francia), Jesus (Panco), Bolivar, Mayra, Juan (Chicho), and Benjamin (Benny).

Join us in celebrating a "Life Well Lived".

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 31, 11am, at First Baptist Church of Clermont, 2751 Hartwood Marsh Road, Clermont, FL  34711.  Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.