Marc Mangia, an award-winning Pro-AM Sand Sculptor born, raised, and lives in Columbus (Blacklick), Ohio has been sculpting sand for 15 years. 聽What started as a way to play with the kids and keep busy on vacations has become his loved hobby.聽Mangia competes in 3 to 4 competitions a year – Ft Myers Beach, FL; Port Huron, Michigan; Port Aransas, Texas; and Yarmouth, Maine. 聽He has placed 1st several times and also People鈥檚 Choice. 聽Aside from competitions, Marc is a Semi-Retired Carpenter.
Mangia has been coming to Aruba for 20 years, and every year his castle creations have grown! 聽This year he spent over 90+ hours in a two week period doing a church and memorial for a dear friend. 聽He knew before coming this year that he wanted to do the Alta Vista Chapel that is here in Aruba. 聽Once he was there in Aruba and getting started, he learned that a good friend, Ralph Passante whom he had meet there in Aruba 15 years ago, had suddenly passed away. 聽Passante always loved watching Mangia work on his sandcastles and was always a protector of them. Passante is greatly missed this year on the beach and Mangia decided to do a memorial in honor of him.
Since owning their timeshare at the Marriott Vacation Club for 17 years, Mangia has made many wonderful friends. 聽Friends that have become his Aruba Family. 聽He looks forward to coming back every year, mid-January thru mid-February, and catching up with all them. 聽Aruba is Mangia鈥檚 home away from home! 聽He says Aruba has the best sand for sculpting.
Rest in peace Ralph Passante. 聽Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
