Obituary
Mark Fichera, of New Brunswick, NJ, passed peacefully on April 9th, 2024 in Florida, after fighting a hard battle with cancer at 81 years of age. Mark, who was also known as Dad, The Big Fish, and Uncle Mark, had a zest for life, infinite love for his family, a beautiful mind, and was forever the rock and anchor for family and friends.
Mark could always be counted on for a great day of fishing and spent a lot of summers organizing fishing trips with friends and family. This led to a lot of incredible fish stories that would make people laugh. He had a love for sports, including tennis, bowling, racquetball, softball, and basketball; he even coached girls’ softball. He always put all of himself into everything he did – that was just his way.
Always up for adventure, he loved to travel, experiencing new things, such as swimming with sharks and dolphins and parasailing, but positively, absolutely no zip lining!! Dad visited his friends and family as often as he could because family, through bloodlines and heart, meant everything to Dad. His family often joked about him as being like George Washington because he slept everywhere. When he traveled, his personality always got him extra perks–-even being able to swim in pools at hotels where he wasn’t staying!
Mark showed the same passion for things that he liked. He loved everything Elvis and even enjoyed showing others his Elvis sideburns. He would watch and rewatch episodes of Two and Half Men, LA Law and Castle. His favorite movie was Let It Ride–he would always show friends and family this movie and quote it often. Mark could always be found eating Twizzlers, which was his favorite candy.
Mark was a quintessential family man who could always be counted on for advice. He would treasure daily phone calls from his family and would work effortlessly to help them. He was loved by all of the children of the family and entertained them by dressing up as Santa Claus and getting engaged in whatever they were playing. When Mark met his wife, Donna at Johnson and Johnson, he said that he loved how when she walked, she moved so fast her feet never touched the ground. He loved her instantly and has loved her every day since they met.
Mark would make friends with everybody that he encountered. He was easy to talk to and had the gift of great storytelling. Everybody always laughed when he was around. It was also amazing how he could always remember everybody’s names and details about their lives, because to him – they had become family.Mark was known for having a sharp mind. He graduated from New Brunswick High School two years early and with honors from both Rider and Benedictine University. He served his country as Sergeant in the US Army, stationed in Germany. He also spent countless hours in the library with his father and at home helping friends and strangers with their taxes.
Mark was so dearly loved and will be forever missed by everyone who was blessed to know him. Mark was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Mary Fichera, and his brother and sister-in-law, Michael Jr. and Beverley Fichera. Surviving are his wife, Donna Lee Fichera; his son and fiancé, Robert Fichera and Christie Post; his daughter, Denise Fichera; his brother and wife James and Renee Fichera; his cousins and many nephew and nieces.
A celebration of life for Mark Fichera will be held in Nokomis, FL in May, and sometime in the summer in Toms River, NJ.
May you always be happy, loved, and blessed.