Marilyn Giardino

Marilyn Giardino was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to John and Angela Giardino, and grew up in Warwick, New York. In 1965, she attended St. John's University, The New School for Social Research in New York City, New York, and the American InterContinental University in Chicago, Illinois. She holds an Associate of Arts in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications and Digital Design, and a Master of Arts in Curriculum Design. In 1983, she married Charles Zych, a musician and electronics engineer, at Sea Ranch, California. The couple has two daughters, Margo Valentine (born 1983) and Christina Nova (born 1986). Both daughters are graduates of the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California, and have careers in film/video and dance. In addition to her work in film, Marilyn created a comedic character named "Marilyn Macaroni," which she performs live at community events. "Marilyn Macaroni" is a clown character who tap dances, sings, plays guitar, performs magic tricks, and creates balloon sculptures, entertaining parents, teachers, and children. The character's costume designs reflect a retro, pop art style. Both of Marilyn's daughters have participated in the shows as "Teena Ballerina" and "Margo the Amazing Ventriloquist." Marilyn is the author of a children's book titled "A Clown is Coming to my Birthday" and produced a video called "Marilyn Macaroni: Lake Shoes!" for children. She continues to work in the motion picture industry and is an active union member of I.A.T.S.E. Script Supervisors, Local 871. During World War II, John Giardino was assigned to an air photographic unit in the South Pacific. As Marilyn was growing up and watching "Lassie" on television, her father would often point out, "There's my buddy's name in the credits...from Guadalcanal!" This inspired Marilyn to want her name to appear on TV. Years later, as a script supervisor, she reunited her father with Kenny Peach Sr., the cinematographer on the "Lassie" TV series.