Mark Helfrich, age 61, of Palm Coast FL, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2020.
Born in Camden, NJ on December 27, 1958, he was the son of the late Francis and Rosemary (Krako) Helfrich. He found his soulmate and love of his life when he married Theresa Quense Helfrich in 1984. Together they started their family in Warren, New Jersey, later transitioning the family to Poland for work, then settling down in Ringoes, New Jersey. They relocated to Florida once their children were grown.
As a young entrepreneur, Mark started his own construction company. Always having a sharp mind and desire to learn, he went on to become a project manager and oversaw the construction of projects including, dehydration plants in South America & Europe, YMCA buildings in Manhattan, and various building projects throughout New Jersey. He continued to advance his self-education and secured a prestigious position at Princeton University as Project Manager of construction and design. He worked on notable projects including the Lewis Science Library, designed by Frank Gehry, and the Neuroscience Inst. building. He cherished spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. A lover of architecture & design, Bob Dylan, swimming and the beach, Mark was known for his warm approachable demeanor and logical process of thinking. Mark was a devout Roman Catholic throughout his life.
Mark is survived by his beloved wife of 35 years, Theresa Quense Helfrich; his children Mark Joseph Helfrich and fiancé Susan Vobora, Melissa Lehman and husband Kyle, Genevieve Mvalo and husband Jeremy, Maria Laird and husband Micah, Benjamin Helfrich, Scott Helfrich, and Anna Helfrich; his cherished grandchildren, Kaylee Lehman, Jeremy Mvalo, Charlotte Lehman, and Layn Estelle Laird; his loving siblings Thomas Helfrich and wife Esther, Nancy Miller and husband John, Fr. Paul Helfrich, Maureen Floyd and husband Gregory, Francis Helfrich and wife Sarah, and Jane Gerhardt and husband Peter; his mother-in-law Joanne and father-in-law Walter Quense; brother- and sister-in-laws Cathy Quense and Sandy Ahlstrom, John and Mary Quense, Cindy Quense and Tim Hughes, Stephen Quense, Paul and Suzanne Quense, Peter and Mary Quense, and Christine Quense; and his many wonderful nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends.
Services will be held on Thursday, January 16 at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach. There will be a viewing beginning at 10:45 am-11:45 am followed by mass at noon.
A memorial mass will be celebrated in New Jersey at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Mark Helfrich’s memory to support Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Donations can be made online or via check.
Checks, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to:
Attn: (Elliott Pollock)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Office of Development
PO Box 27106
New York, NY 10087
Please indicate on the check that the gift is in memory of Mark Helfrich.
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