He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa on September 7, 1967 to Francis (Fritz) and the late Patricia (Gerner) Rowsick.
Mark lived a full and happy life. He graduated at the age of 21 from Monroe County Boces I. In his younger years, Mark competed in several events in the Special Olympics. He always relished going to his day care programs through Lifetime Assistance.
The special love of Marks’s life was music. He equally enjoyed singing and dancing especially to the music of Michael Jackson and Lawrence Welk. Tunes from the 60s and 70s added to his eclectic taste.
Trips to Pittsburgh, PA, Baltimore, MD, and Palm Beach Gardens, FL to visit with family were also high on his to do list, especially if a trip to Kennywood or Disney World was included.
Mark never found a restaurant or a waitress that he didn’t like. Cheeseburgers and Diet Pepsi were his standing order with chocolate anything for dessert. Mark was also a well-known flirt. He thought that each and every woman he met was beautiful and told them so.
Mark is survived by his father and step-mother, Fritz and Liz Rowsick of Bergen, a sister Linda Rowsick of Canandaigua, brother “Bud” Rowsick of Pittsburgh, PA and his step-siblings, Ron (Dawn) Greenman of Ellicott City, MD, Dave (Pat) VanValkenburg of Saugerties, John (Jennifer) Greenman of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Donna (Garth) Howard of Caledonia and Dan (Jenn) Van Valkenburg of Bergen. His step-brother, Matthew Greenman of Brockport, who frequently wrote of his affection for Mark on his Facebook page, was called home ahead of Mark in February, 2015.
Mark is survived by many nieces and nephews that he took great delight in spending time with along with aunts, uncles and cousins primarily from the Pittsburgh area.
We are most grateful to Lifetime Assistance, Inc. for providing Mark with such dedicated staff through casework and programming over the years and with residential services for the past four years. We wish to mention in particular the staff at Trinity Day Hab and the Lowry Center. Mark’s Home on Sweden Hill in Brockport was Home to him with a capitol “H”.
Mark Rowsick has brought smiles and good memories and joy filled moments to everyone who ever came in contact with him. The world is a sadder place without him. Mark leaves us the challenge to follow his loving example throughout our own lives.
Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, 51 South Lake Street, Bergen. Mark’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM, Saturday, (June 20, 2015) at St. Brigid's Church, 18 Gibson Street, Bergen. Burial will be in Mt. Rest Cemetery, Bergen.
In recognition of their excellent work with and for Mark, we ask that you consider memorials to either Lifetime Assistance Inc., 465 Paul Road, Rochester, NY 14624 or to the Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester and Finger Lakes Region, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620 who has spent much time in helping to educate Mark’s care givers on that horrific disease. Flowers are gratefully declined.
Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.
