Marjorie Mariano was a woman deeply passionate about the ocean and nature— especially the sport of surfing — having spent much of her life and story within the North Shore community.
Eight years ago, shortly after losing her best friend in a tragic event, she miraculously survived an attack by a 13-foot tiger shark in Laniakea — an event that would have left most people traumatized (see article here).
Instead, Marjorie embraced life with even more gratitude and courage, overcoming not only physical injuries but also the emotional challenges of being far from family. She did so with the loyal support of friends from all over the world, spread across five continents.
Last year, life has presented her with another serious challenge—one that threatens her health and independence. Despite living an extremely healthy lifestyle, Marjorie was diagnosed with an aggressive tumor located in the posterior left part of her brain.
“Watching her fade over just three months was heartbreaking beyond words. A glioblastoma , the most aggressive kind of brain tumor, took her body far too quickly. With no family close by, the end of her journey was incredibly hard. Yet even then, she met it the only way she knew how: with courage, dignity, and grace. And when it was time, she let go,” wrote former world champion Stephanie Pettersen on the Instagram.
She left this world on Thursday, January 8th. Marjorie was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and was one of the pioneers of bodyboarding, a regular and consistent competitor on the world tour during the 90s.
On behalf of the entire team, please accept our deepest sympathies. Our thoughts are with Mariano’s family and friends.
