We only met Mark a handful of times, but even through those brief meetings we could tell he was a good, kind man.

We have been friends with his son, Daniel, for many years now. He is a fine gentleman, a testament to his Father who raised him with love and support. 

We regret we were not able to get to know him better before his departure from this world, but we are fortunate we were able to meet him at all.

We all have a limited time here, it's what we do with that time that defines us. 

And judging by what we knew of him, and knowing him through his son, Mark spent his time well on this earth.

Mark was my concert band conductor in the Halifax school music program (1978-83) and a wonderful teacher and mentor.  He later became conductor and band mate to my mother who still plays in the Halifax Concert Band.  I was happy to stay in touch with him over the years at their gigs.  

Mark was always encouraging us to stretch and enjoy music.  He pulled me and few other students out of the concert band to form a small jazz combo which gave us a lot more experience and confidence.  In particular, I remember him lending me a handful of albums to listen to including Tower of Power’s “In The Slot” so I could really hear the potential of baritone sax. That album remains among my favourites (especially ‘Ebony Jam’ for anyone who doesn’t know it). That was the kind of generosity and genuine interest he had in his students.

Many have spoken of Mark’s sense of humour, and my favourite line was after 5 or so minutes of trying to tune up 40 high school band students, he’d declare, “Ok, close enough for jazz!”  I still borrow that line often.  

To Rosemary and the family, my sincere condolences - he was one of the good ones and will be well remembered by so many of us that had the honour to learn from him and soak up his energy and enthusiasm for music and life.

To Mark's Family - On behalf of the Halifax Concert Band, I'd like to express our gratitude for sharing him with us for so many years.  Although he had only recently retired himself,  and fancied a bit of fun the  HCB percussion section, in 2007 he stepped into the breech, when Ron became ill and then passed.  Never missing a (down)beat, we continued and became and were Mark's band until he returned to the clarinet section 10 years ago - but he graciously accepted the title of Associate Conductor. We loved his wit, his use of simile, and his demand for "doing/being" better as musicians and a collective.  His compositions and arrangements were treats and these will endure as time marches on.  It has been a privilege and an honour to have known, to have been conducted by, and have played music by Mark/Kent.  Please stay in touch!  Becky Campbell, President, Halifax Concert Band Society

To Rosemary and family: 
I am so sorry to have missed the service in memory of Mark today, but unfortunately had to turn back because of the state of the streets and the traffic. 
I got to know Mark when he conducted the Halifax Concert Band and quickly recognized a fellow MAD magazine devotee thorough his familiar references and terrible punny jokes. 
Mark was such a fun & vibrant presence. I'm sure his band students adored him. We in the HCB have missed him immensely and will always remember his huge contribution of talent and personality. 
With deep condolences to your entire family,
Margo Grant

Deepest condolences on Mark’s passing.  As a member of the Halifax Concert Band, I got to know Mark as a conductor, a talented musician and a warm, happy soul.  We will all miss him dearly.  The music he left behind will help to keep his memory alive and I cherish his arrangements of well-known hymns.  Wishing the family deep peace and strength.

I was very saddened to learn of Mark's passing.  I remember him well with a great deal of respect for Mark and his ability to engage his students. It was a privilege to have worked together for a number of years at Brookside Junior High School. I shall always remember the dry humour, the support he provided to me and the staff at BJHS.
Sincerely
Willard Cavicchi

Mark and I were friends for many years, mostly through musical endeavors. We first met when my high school band in Middleton did several exchanges with the Truro band. We played together in Halifax numerous times with the John Alphonse Big Band and more recently in the sax quartet Sax4Hire pictured above. I went to see Mark in hospital last week but was regrettably two hours too late. We had hoped to come to the funeral today but the roads in our area are deteriorating quickly. I will always remember Mark as a great man, a wonderful musician, and someone who could always make me laugh. I wish I could be there to hear the many anecdotes and musical tributes to him. I am there in spirit. Steve Rigden

I’m so very sorry for your loss. I enjoyed my interactions with Mark/Otis over the years and can only imagine the hole this leaves in your lives. I hope that in time it will be filled with your loving memories and chuckles over some of those things that he would say. He will always be Otis to me. xo Alison ‘Staples’

My sincere condolences to the family.  I knew Mark through teaching and loved substituting for him.  His students showed such respect for him and enjoyed their experiences in his band program.  I’ll miss his wonderful sense of humour and kind nature.  It was a pleasure to work and perform with him.  Thank you for all the young lives with whom you shared your love of music .

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mark's death. It is way too soon. He had so much to bring to this life and he was doing it well. Now, we all have to get by without him and without those skills and the personality that made the world a better place. Rosemary, you may not remember me because he worked with so many. However, I want you to know he helped change my musical life. What a sense of humour he brought to the concert arrangements he made of my songs! Perfect. And I looked forward to many more years of doing that.  Then, around the time he got his diagnosis, I was cut down by a return of a chronic illness that had been giving me some peace for a while. So, music stopped for me.  He and I emailed that we would pray for each other. It seems his prayers for me worked better than mine for him, because I am improving. I am so very sorry for your grief, yours and your family's.  I hope it helps to know that he touched so many lives in a positive way.

Mr. Cuming truly was a one of a kind. He had a flair about him that was unmatched. I have fond memories of him from years spent in band class.  He'd taken me under his wing and taught me piccolo as an addition to our flute section. I'm sure his ears were thankful for the extra practicing we did those first few weeks! May his bandstand stay straight, his guitar strings taught, and his garden hose horn forever blare.

My condolences to his family and friends. The world will surely be a little dimmer without him.

Dear Rosemary, Daniel, Jordan and family. My deepest condolences for your loss. My Uncle was a kind soul and one of the funniest people I have had the pleasure of knowing. He will be missed greatly. I am so happy to have got to see him.  He was a big part of my life growing up and I will miss him and his wit. He was a true Cuming.

I am the same age as Mark and reading his obituary I observe how
very well he  used his life. He was a good , positive guy who contributed  to those around him.
   John and all the family may warm , personal memories
 support each of  you in this time of sorrow. I remember 
you well from our high school band days , as well as your parents.
They must  be proud.
Most sincerely, Bonnie Hurry (Mrs.) 
 hurrybonnie73@gmail.com

Deepest Sympathies to Mark's family from the Chester Brass Band,
Payson Rowell, President

I'm a former ARHS student. I fondly remember going to numerous Stage Band competitions in the mid 70's, playing songs that Mr. Cummings had arranged like TV theme songs This is the Law, and Hawaii 5 O. Sending my condolences to the Cummings family.

Steve Weatherbee
Amherst

I had the pleasure of working with Mark as a team music teacher with the Halifax and Halifax County Schools.  His dedication to his students was evident in all ways.  The students bloomed in his care and professionalism.  We became friends throughout the years of preparing  students for concerts during our intertwined careers of shared  school music circuits.  
“A life well-lived never dies.” Ciero

Rest in Peace, Mark!

Keeping all family in my prayers,

Dorothy Hammond- Brookside, NS

Sometimes fate offers us  something special and unique in our lives and that was Mark.  He was wonderful to have as a friend… and that smile.!  You knew you could count on him.
We can almost see you Mark with  Lane Francis “belting out “Mustang Sally on the saxophone a Saturday night at  the Truro Legion.
Adieu good friend!  We have been honoured and blessed to have known you!

Rosemary, my heart goes out to you, Daniel, Jordan, and all of your family. May your precious  and cherished memories of Mark be a source of comfort during this very difficult time, and may Mark rest in eternal peace and light. 

Love,
Natalie McDonald

To All Marks family & frineds so sorry to hear of his passing  .i didn't know Mark in his later years .But had the pleasure of been in his company when he joined our band the Summerside Legion Concert Band in 1967 to go on a six week tour across Canada .He was a great guy and fun to be around . We were young back than .But made lots of wonderful memories that are forever etched in our hearts <3 Where has the time gone ? Keeping All Marks Family& Friends in our thoughts & Prayers Faye Bernard ( Walsh )

I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Cummings passing. 
I was a student of his in grade 7, brookside jr high. 
I admired his passion for music and his dedication to us students. 
I recall he collaborated with the Terence bay elementary kids and between the two schools, we turned out a Christmas cassette one time. 
Fond memories indeed. 

My condolences to his family

So sad to hear this . He is now in the. Eternity Band with so many grest musicians . I have fond memories of working with him in The Corvettes . Condolences to his family. Jim Henman

To the Cuming Family,
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of my colleague Mark,  who I had the privilege of working with at Brookside Junior High. Mark was a gifted musician and educator who was highly successful at developing his students to have an appreciation and love of music. His passion was passed on to his students creating an excellent band program at Brookside Junior High which also resulted in developing some fine musicians. 
Our thoughts are with you all.
Lynn Kazamel-Boudreau and John Boudreau

Holding everyone close in Prayer . . .
May Choirs of Angels (and Concert Bands) welcome him.
💔
MaryAnn 
(Ottawa)

I played in a weekend dance band in Truro with "Otis", along with Eugene Hay, Bruce Curry, Peter Gougan, et. al., when he was studying music teaching at the Teachers College (circa 1972/73). He played saxophone with us and he was an accomplished player, even then. He certainly made a huge musical contribution to the band. I still play a musical "riff" that Mark taught us back then.

My memories of him are his wonderful personality, his sense of good humor and his dedication to becoming a music teacher. I know he enjoyed playing "gigs" in the band around Truro and area, not to mention some play money while in school.

Condolences to his family and friends who knew him well.

Stephen Smith
Dartmouth

I would like to offer my condolence to the Cuming family, Rosemary, Jordan & family and John & family.  I have many fond memories of Mark from our time in high school and Teachers College.  We both acted as best man at each other's wedding.  Some special moments there.  Mark was a talented musician and score writer and we spend a lot of time playing together in the Truro Concert Band and various rock bands.  I have had the pleasure of playing some pieces he composed for the 14 Wing Band under his direction.  Both of us had the pleasure of teaching  students in Junior and senior high schools during our teaching careers and adults in community bands presently.  Mark will be missed, his sense of humor, his caring attitude and his music.
RIP Otis!

To the Cumings Family.
Please accept my most sincere condolences on Marks passing.
I met Mark through being a member of the Halifax Concert Band and a fellow Clarinet player. I really enjoyed his twisted sense of humour. He was a great conductor and such a good musician and understated composer. I had the privelege for a number of years of sitting beside him in the 1st clarinet row. One couldn't help from benefiting  that experience. I really miss that.
I was fortunate to see Mark just a fewdays before his passing. He was still quite lucid even though he was failing physically. We had a good conversation over several minutes. He was a fighter to the end.
Carman Bright

Mr. Cumming was a fantastic part of my years at Brookside. I had him for both band and grade 7 English. He was funny and dedicated to excellence, with high expectations that pushed us all to be the best we could. He even rearranged all the music for the jazz band so I could be in it while playing the French horn (not at all a traditional instrument to find in a jazz band!). Condolences to his loved ones. He will be fondly remembered and truly missed.

Dear Rosemary, Daniel, Jordan & Family: We are saddened to hear of Mark’s passing, a lovely family man, we went to one of his free concerts at the Woodlawn Library when we first moved to Dartmouth, after introducing us he made us feel so welcomed plus he was a great entertainer, lots of fun stories intertwined with his music plus a big smile on his face, a lovely family man, we loved meeting him at a few family functions, just to hear his humorous stories was a blessing, he will be missed.
We will be thinking of you all during these difficult days & weeks ahead, you are all in our hearts & our prayers, hugs, Betty/Terry Fogarty

I am sorry for your loss. Mark was a very good husband and father and will be missed. Remember he is always around you and will never be forgotten. Again sorry for your loss. 
Colleen

I remember Mark so well from our days in Ron MacKay's High School Band in Truro. We had so many wonderful musical experiences as we performed in various places throughout the province, and travelled to Ontario, Quebec, Maine and Bermuda on exchange trips. Lots of laughter accompanied the music as Mark regaled us with his humor. 
I am thinking of John and all of Mark's family at this difficult time. I wish you peace, and the comfort of happy memories.
Janice (Hurry) Davison

Mark was a passionate music teacher to all of our daughters going through Brookside as well as a longtime coworker to their dad,Dan Flinn. Deepest condolences from all of us as you all start to navigate life without Mark. May your happy memories soon overshadow the recent hardships. ❤️

Dear Rosemary, Daniel, & Jordan

It was sad learning about the beginning of Mark’s courageous battle with cancer.  Natalie kept us posted while he was remembered in our daily prayers.

We were fortunate meeting Mark and once attending a musical presentation  a number of years ago with you both.  

Mark has remained a good natured individual who touched many souls over the years because of his interests and talents.  

You and your family have splendid memories that will help you cope during these difficult days ahead.

Our prayers and deepest sympathy,
Gus & Shirley McDonald

Thinking of you Gary at this difficult time…losing a sibling is never easy. Sending hugs…Cher Mck.

I am saddened to learn of Mark’s death. I was a member of the Halifax Concert band for many years when Mark was conductor and then after he “retired” when he continued on as “first officer” or “rehearsal technician”, depending upon his mood. He was an excellent teacher with a sharp sense of humour. His death is a great loss to the music community.  My condolences to Mark’s family as you morn his death and give thanks for his life among you.

To the Cummings families and friends we were very saddened to hear about  Marks passing our prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time we were Neighbors for years we lived on Douglas ST Frank Jenny Melanson and they lived around the corner on South ST he was a true gentleman indeed well loved by all who knew him loved his music may you keep his memories alive and in your Hearts rest in Heavenly peace Mark fly high with the angels may God bless you all Eldon Janet Melanson Family.

I was lucky enough to have been taught by Mr. Cummings.  He helped me develop a love for music which has nourished my soul.  Rest in musical bliss. Thank you for sharing your guidance and gifts.  Hugs to all that will miss his presence. He will be making music in your hearts for years to come.

Condolences and heartfelt prayers Rosemary and family 💔.  Mark was a great and wonderful co-worker and always lit up a room when he walked in.  Awesome and talented, he remains in our thoughts and prayers.  RIP Mark
Donna & Harold H.

Mr. Cuming was THE best teacher of all time - not only of music, but of character!  He truly cared about his students and his work, and as his student you could feel that from him.  I hope he is in whatever heaven is to him, playing his garden hose/funnel instrument, with spit flying everywhere <3 condolences to his family.

Mr Cuming was an incredible band teacher at Brookside Juniour High. He inspired all of my classmates with music as he switched from instrument to instrument playing all of the different parts flawlessly. I still remember when he would slip in random songs for a us to learn and us later finding out he wrote them. One being called Cuming Overture. May his spirit live on through music.

Aunt Betty and cousins Mike and Cathy send our deepest sympathies to the Cuming clan on Mark’s passing.  Know that our arms and hearts hold you close as you journey through this dark time.

Mr. Cuming will be remembered by all of us whom he taught music to.  He was a wonderful teacher.

Very sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. He was a fine musician and educator and had a great sense of humour and excellent rapport with his groups. 
Coldolences from Wayne and Virginia Baker

Heartfelt appreciation for all Mark did for everyone. His memory will endure with great warmth.
(Garth, Hfx Concert Band)

OBITUARY

Mark Allen Cuming

1 April, 1952 – 22 January, 2025

JA Snow Funeral Home

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