USMC Ret. Sergeant Major Todd M. Parisi, 49, of St. Marys, PA, died unexpectedly on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at his home.
He was born on October 9, 1968, in St. Marys, a son of the late Carol Wickett Parisi and Louis Parisi of Kersey.
Sergeant Major Todd M. Parisi enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in October of 1985 and entered recruit training in September 1986 at 2d Battalion, Company F, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation as a Private First Class, he attended the Infantry Training School at Camp Geiger, North Carolina and graduated as the Bravo Company Honor man and was assigned the MOS of 0311 and promoted to Lance Corporal. After completing training as an infantryman, he was assigned to Marine Barracks Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines for Security Force duty where he served from March 1987 until September 1988. He then transferred to 1st Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, where he served as a Scout/Scout-Sniper and remained there until September 1991. During his assignment with 1st Battalion 7th Marines, Sergeant Major Parisi served as a Scout-Sniper team leader during Operation’s DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM with Task Force Ripper. He was selected the 1995 Rookie of the Year, Recruiter of the Year in 1996, and was the Centurion Award recipient in 1997. He also served in support of Iraqi Freedom. In 2011, he assumed duties as the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, deploying forward as the senior enlisted advisor for the theater response force in support of real world contingencies.
Sergeant Major Parisi’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star in lieu of 2d award, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 3 gold stars in lieu of 4th award), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with gold star in lieu of 2d award), the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and he was also the recipient of the Major General Clayton B. Vogel Award for leadership excellence in the 2d Marine Division. He was a graduate of the Keystone Course at the National Defense University, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management from Ashford University and was also a state certified foster parent.
Sergeant Major Parisi retired from the Marine Corps in September of 2014.
Todd was a highly esteemed motivational speaker who enjoyed fishing and was the co-founder of the local youth group, The Spartans. He will be forever remembered for his outstanding and faithful service to his country and to others.
Todd is survived by his father, Louis Parisi and his wife Helen of Kersey, his three children, Alyssa (Dale Dibble, Jr.) Parisi of Jacksonville, NC, Dylan (Angela) Parisi of Hawaii and Jonathan Parisi of Greensboro, NC, and by his beloved grandchildren, Bentley Weidman and Adelynn Parisi. He is also survived by three sisters, Brenda (Scott) Mullens, Cheryl (Bryan) Caton, and Connie Andrews, all of Emporium, one brother, Donnie (Ann) Losey of Emporium, by his fiance, Amy Bryant of Lenoir, NC, and by his former wife, Diana Parisi of Florida.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by twin sons, Louie and Bernie Parisi.
Funeral Services for USMC Ret. Sergeant Major Todd M. Parisi will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2018, at 11:00 AM at the Sacred Heart Parish Center, 337 Center Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.
Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Sacred Heart Parish Center on Wednesday, April 4, 2018
from 4:00-8:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer Memorial Contributions in memory of Todd be made to the St. Marys Servicemen's Burial Detail, c/o American Legion, Center Street, St. Marys, PA 15857 or to the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 720, c/o Dagus Mines Legion, 196 Skyline Drive, Dagus Mines, PA 15831.
Lynch-Green Funeral Home, 151 N. Michael St., St. Marys, is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.lynchgreenfuneralhome.com
