Mark Joseph DeHarde

Mark Joseph DeHarde, a veteran, civil leader, and professional engineer, died on the second Monday of Easter, 28 April 2025 in Tampa, Florida surrounded by his family at the age of 89, six days shy of his ninetieth birthday.

He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of William and Mary Schmader DeHarde, and brother of William Matthew DeHarde and Mary DeHarde Czarnecki.

When Mark was asked the question, what is your greatest accomplishment, without hesitation, Mark would answer that it was his sweetheart and wife of 67 years and mother of their six children, Mary Anne. They wed in 1956 and their marriage took them on many adventures in many places where friends and community bonds were made: in Erie, Towanda, Williamsport, Camp Hill, and Laporte, Pennsylvania, and Palm Harbor and Deer Island, Florida.

Mark was a graduate of Gannon University, where he participated in ROTC. During school, he worked as a draftsman, surveyor, and apprentice engineer. Upon graduation, Mark was commissioned as an active duty Second Lieutenant in the Army. From 1957 until 1966, Mark served in the United States Army Reserve, where he was promoted to Captain.

Mark’s professional career included roles across the state of Pennsylvania as Power Engineer at Penelec, Distribution Sales Manager and Engineer at Lowry Electrics, Project Engineer at Gannett Fleming, and Technical Director at the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency.

Mark was active in government and politics, and was a private consultant. These activities included stints on the School Board, Zoning Board, Tri-County Housing Agency, ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), and IES (Illuminating Engineering Society). As a consultant he created mechanical and electrical designs for commercial and industrial buildings. He was an integral member of a group of private professionals who designed, built, and leased a 53-unit rental property in Lycoming, PA.

Mark was an empathetic observer of individuals and their situations. This was most evident when he would offer a timely joke, or an appropriate word. Mark would also offer his hand in an act of kindness when someone was undergoing a particularly challenging or difficult circumstance. This was all done in a quiet and unassuming way, and sometimes even in an amusing way.

Mark enjoyed his family, friends, and hobbies, and when all converged, he was delighted. Whether it was golf, (Mark made 7 holes-in-one), marksmanship, (he was an expert shooter with a carbine, an Army Quartermaster known for achieving an astounding number of bull’s-eyes), or design and construction, (Mark and his wife, Mary Anne, also united their engineering and art professions to design and build beautiful homes for their family). Mark had a gift for resourcefulness and original solutions to design and construction. A favorite result was a lake house that became a summer vacation haven for his children and grandchildren. Mark and his wife’s love of golf both for its competitive nature and bonds of friendship was passed on to many of their children and grandchildren, most especially at this lake house.

One of the greatest gifts he gave to his children was the bond he forged with his grandchildren, for whom he had a great affection. He worked to support and develop their interests, and he was extremely proud of their outstanding accomplishments.

Mark was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Anne DeHarde; and his siblings, William DeHarde and Mary DeHarde Czarnecki.

Mark is survived by his children and their spouses, Caroline (Frederick) Bennett, Natalie (Edward) Brasher, Lisa (Thomas) Perry, Mark Dana DeHarde, Stephen DeHarde, Virginia (Brian) Stoudt; his grandchildren and their spouses, Adam (Vicki) Bennett, Joseph (Carole) Bennett, Michelle (John) Torres, Alexandria (Benjamin) Souders, Sean (Shannon) DeHarde, Rosemarie Perry (David Putrino), Edward (Marifi) Berry, Bella Haas (Daniel Benami), Thomas (Gretchen) Perry, Andrea Matovich, Mark James DeHarde, Ava DeHarde, and Christian DeHarde; and his great-grandchildren, Maryam, Landon, Daniel, Christian, Henry, Avery, Lawrence, Stavros, Michael, Nora, Theodore, Isabella, Christopher, Thomas, Felix, Lorelei, and Elliot.

“Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one finds a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price, no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; those who fear God will find them. Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship, for as they are, so will their neighbors be.” Sirach 6:14-17

The Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, 10 May 2025 at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor, Florida at 11:00 am. Interment with a luncheon to follow at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park & Funeral Home at 12:15 pm.

Memorial donations may be made to any of Mark’s favorite charities: Catholic Charities Literacy Programs, Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch, Disabled American Veterans, and community charities benefiting the elderly. Scroll for direct links.

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