Gene Marino, 70, of Malvern, chemist and volunteer

Gene Marino, 70, of Malvern, a chemist and volunteer, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, of kidney failure at Phoenixville Hospital.

Mr. Marino parlayed his training as a chemist into a long career with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Between 1969 and 2005, when he left the company, he served as project manager and managing chemist for the process by which parenteral medicines are made.

Parenterals, drugs taken intravenously or by intramuscular injection, have no digestive barrier, such as those taken orally, according to Contract Pharma, a professional online bulletin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets very exacting standards for their manufacture -- guidelines that Mr. Marino was responsible for upholding, his family said.

In 2006, Mr. Marino began working as a compliance officer for Lachman Consulting, a pharmaceutical consulting company in Westbury, N.Y. His work took him to Germany, Italy, and California. He never retired.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Marino was a 1964 graduate of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in 1968 from Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in 1975 from Villanova University, both in organic chemistry.

While in State College, Mr. Marino played first trumpet in the Penn State Blue Band, and he later played with the Penn State Alumni Blue Band. He was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, a fraternity of chemists.

Mr. Marino was a member of the American Chemical Society, Chem Pharma, Parenteral Drug Association, and the Chemical Heritage Foundation. He was a project manager with both the Project Management Institute and the Delaware Valley Chapter of the nonprofit International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering.

He also was a member and past president of the Paoli-Malvern Jaycees, recording secretary for the Knights of Columbus, and an honorary member of the Italian Navy-Giovanni Caboto.

An avid golfer, Mr. Marino was a member of the West Chester Wyeth Golf League, the Wyeth/ Pfizer Golf League, and the United States Golf Association.

"Gene had a beautiful laugh that brightened any room like sunshine," golf buddy Stephen M. Hodulik posted in an online memory book.

"My husband was very proud of all of his friends," said his wife, Constance Santa Maria Marino. "He never had a bad word to say about anybody."

In addition to his wife of 48 years, he is survived by children David Marino and Michelle Nyquist and a granddaughter.

A viewing will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, followed by an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Patrick Church, 104 Channing Ave., Malvern. Interment is private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus, c/o St. Patrick Church Business Office, 126 Woodland Ave., Malvern, Pa. 19355.