Mario Machi lived from 1914 to 1998 and was a founder of Shelter Cove with his brothers Tony and Babe Machi. Remembered for a ready smile, a friendly wave, and a faraway look while waiting for his fishermen to return, he was cherished as a gentle man. He was a hero in war, surviving the Bataan Death March and more than three years of brutal captivity in World War II, and received the Bronze Star. He was also a hero in peace, known for courageous ocean rescues and as a respected teacher, author, and historian, embodying the spirit of Shelter Cove.