Mario Trafeli, JR. D.D.S.

MARIO TRAFELI , JR. D.D.S., known fondly to most as simply “Mario”, a Michigan sports legend, Farmington dentist, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away at age 93, on January 22, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. Mario was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1928. He started skating at age 14, was nationally ranked by 15 and at age 18 emerged as the youngest, the first Detroiter, and the first Italian-American to win the 1947 Outdoor North American Speed Skating Championship. Over the ten-year period 1945-1955, he was one of North America’s top skaters. Following his 1947 North American Championship he was invited five years in a row to the two-mile invitational Race of Champions held at New York’s Madison Square Garden, a race he won twice, set the two mile record in 1952, and placed each other year. Between 1946 and 1953 he was a six time Michigan Indoor Champion, setting records in the ¾ mile, the 440 yard, the 800 yard, the 1 mile, and 2 mile Michigan Championships. In 1948 Mario was an alternate to the US Olympic speed skating team and additionally played as Quarterback on the Wayne (State) University Tartans football team. In 1982 Mario was inducted into the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame and in 2010 was inducted into both the U.S. Speed Skating Hall of Fame as well as the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame, the honor for which he was most personally proud. In the 1970s he took an interest in thoroughbred horse racing and became owner and trainer of many race-winning thoroughbreds. Also, at age 45 he took up the sport of tennis. Within ten years Mario was top ranked in Michigan in Midwest Men’s singles and, in his mid-70s, Mario started playing doubles and at age 83 he and his partner were ranked number one in Men’s Midwest Doubles. Mario attended Hampton Elementary, U of D High School, Wayne (State) University, and the U of D Dental School, and served as a dentist in the US Navy. In 1955, Mario married his love and best friend Marjorie Anne Busch. They had 6 children. Mario and Marjorie would celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary this year. He is also survived by his daughters Barbara Trafeli Fenton (George), Janet Trafeli, JD, sons Robert Trafeli, DO (Kerstin), John Paul Trafeli, MD, and Mark Trafeli, JD (Kate), his 12 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and sisters Elaine Palmer and Diana Chronert Wallach. Mario is pre-deceased by his parents Louise (Iacovacci) and Mario Trafeli Sr., and his daughter Karen. Family will receive friends Friday 3-8 PM with a Rosary at 7 PM at A. J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Rd (between Maple & Big Beaver), 248-362-2500. Funeral Mass Saturday 11 AM at St. Owen Church, 6869 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Hills. Visitation at church begins Saturday at 10:30 AM. Masks are required for both visitation and Mass. In lieu of flowers memorial tributes to Alzheimer's Association or University of Detroit Jesuit High School. ~Lovingly submitted by the family.