Born in San Nicola da Crissa, Calabria, Marchese arrived in Canada with his family in 1961.

Sheila Cary-Meagher, said, "You have to stop and think... about the people who want to run for the job and who, if we keep it a rich person's ghetto, can't do it," she said.

[6] The NDP won a majority government and Marchese was appointed as the Minister of Culture and Communications on October 1, 1990.

[8] He presided over a significant increase in funding to the Ontario Arts Council and the provincial film industry, but was dropped from cabinet on July 31, 1991.

[9] As a replacement for his cabinet position, Marchese was appointed as parliamentary assistant to Premier Bob Rae focusing on constitutional affairs.

[11] In June 1994, he introduced a private member's bill to give Toronto the ability to regulate after hours clubs.

[12] The NDP were defeated in the 1995 election, although Marchese managed to increase his margin of victory against Wong who ran again for the Liberals.