Tribute to Mark I waited nearly a year to write this as I couldn’t collect my thoughts properly when Mark passed. Mark LeMessurier was my friend for many years. We were particularly good friends in High School although we met at the beginning of Junior High. I had a handful of close friends of when I finished High School and Mark was one of them. I wanted to share some memories of what a great person he was. I first met Mark when I was in grade six at St Pius X Junior High in St John’s. He was the tallest and strongest kid in the class and was subsequently through Junior High. He had great athletic ability, was captain of almost our school teams and was the only kid early on who could grab a volleyball for dodgeball with one hand. Mark could have a temper if you riled him but he was never mean or picked on any of the other students. Although today I am over six feet tall, in Junior High I was the second smallest kid in every grade so I can attest to this. Mark was friendly to me and every other kid in the class, which included invites to his birthday parties. We became good friends in High School through Mike O’Brien. I remember taking Mark on his first ski trip when we went to Marble Mountain. We went with Scott Parsons and Tina Collier who skied with us. I took Mark on a run known as the OMJ (Oh My Jesus) on his first day. He was really mad at me but we had a good laugh later about it later that evening over drinks. Mark was also our High School co – President, played on several High School varsity teams and had a high rank in our Army Cadet core – (Warrant Officer I believe) which was the top army cadet core in Canada at that time. Mark had talked a number of us into joining as well. I also remember driving to Middle Cove Beach in High School for a beach party in Mark’s Dad’s Suburban SUV together and Mark putting on the utility siren on top of the SUV. We scared the heck out of everyone at the beach but it was a harmless prank. I was at Mark and Michelle’s Wedding and it was a beautiful ceremony. I also visited he and Michelle a few years later with my girlfriend while they lived in Toronto. Mark and I went to the pub and had a few beers that evening. It was really hot that summer and Mark left the doors open to his house. He said “Listen, Conway if they want to steal something, I have insurance. It’s too hot to have the doors closed.” I thought that was a great attitude and classic Mark. I spoke with him many times at the fire station over the phone and a few years ago we got the old High School buddies together for St Patrick’s Day. Mike O’Brien and Brett Clarke were in Toronto and invited me along. I called my wife and the boys sung her a beautiful song over the phone that made the whole pub stop. It was a great day and we had a lot of laughs and fun all around. I really cannot believe Mark is gone. I hope that these memories contribute to what a wonderful person he was. Chris
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 03:22:04 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015