Lewiston, Maine – Mark Anthony Tempesta, 58, died peacefully at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston on May 22, 2020, with his sister Crystal and brother-in-law David Trask at his side, after a sudden stroke.
Mark was born in Lewiston on June 20, 1961, the firstborn of Anthony “Tony” Louie Tempesta and his first wife, Linda Mae Pomeroy, now known as Linda Rae Joy. He grew up in Maine and Pennsylvania, graduating from Mount Blue High School in Farmington, Class of 1979. Mark later took classes at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Mark’s father Tony encouraged his children in his own passion of photography. Mark later turned some of his photographic studies into larger works of fine art.
A lifelong love of music and books along with a creative soul led him to play electric guitar in the “Lefty Upside Down” style engendered by one of his early heroes, Carlos Santana; a career in bookselling over the years at Walden Books and Hudson News, and ending at Books-A-Million, where he was a manager of the Auburn Mall store at the time of his death; and a hope to open his own used bookshop and coffee shop in the Central Maine area after retirement with his best friend Paul Dibden.
Mark’s life produced original and exceptional works of design, fine art, original songs and poems, and precious cassette recordings of original compositions going as far back as high school, with his band “Manifesto.” Mark composed an original composition which he performed at his cousin Katie Lee Fournier’s memorial service in 2012.
Mark’s grandfather, Louie Tempesta, emigrated to Maine from Sonnino, Italy, and Mark was very aware of his Italian heritage. In 2008 he started a Facebook page called “Sonnino, Italy via USA” to put a spotlight on Sonnino, help bring tourism to the area, and connect the descendants of family who emigrated from there. In July 2019, Mark, Daiana Magalhaes and Denise Dumont were honored as “Town Ambassadors” by the Town of Sonnino; Mark was humbled and thrilled with this honor. While Mark never traveled to Italy himself, his efforts led to enduring friendships online, and in-person visits by his sister Crystal and his mom Linda. Some of Mark’s cremated remains will eventually make the final journey to Sonnino in his family’s care. Mark was an American and a Mainer through-and-through, but his heart belonged with his Sonninese. While Mark never traveled to Italy, he did travel to the Bahamas and to Mexico, exploring sites of Mayan civilization such as Tulum and Chichen Itza, what he called a bucket-list trip.
Mark’s passion for his Italian heritage, along with Tempesta family photos that he received from his grandfather Louie and others, also led to many enjoyable hours spent exploring genealogy and scanning and digitizing the family photos. He had a large print of “Rome in 12 parts” or “View of Rome”, first printed in 1593 by the artist Antonio Tempesta, a distant relative. Antonio Tempesta’s work decorates the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
In later years, Mark struggled with the effects of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite music program or to The ALS Association.
Mark’s black-and-white cat “TT” is once again purring at his side, having survived him by only a few weeks. Mark was predeceased by his father Tony in 2015, paternal grandparents Anna Gertrude Huntley Tempesta in 1973 and Luigi “Louie” Artur Tempesta in 1990; maternal grandparents Myron Ashley Pomeroy in 1988 and Carolyn Alma Elkins Pomeroy Preble in 2018; aunts and uncles Elaine Edith Tempesta DeGraves (2007), Roy Ashley Pomeroy (2009), Mary Lee Pomeroy Hopkins (2010), Tommaso Lumberto Tempesta (2017), and cousins Katie Lee Fournier Lantigua Tinkham (2012) and Julie Robin Hopkins Crowley (2015).
In addition to his mother Linda Rae Joy of Maine and Arizona, Mark is survived by his three younger siblings and their spouses, Crystal & David Trask of Vassalboro, Maine; Daryl & Julie Tempesta of Scotts Valley, CA; and Lisa & Byron Wise of Rancho Murieta, CA; his nieces and nephews: Nichelle & Aaron Bateman & 3 children, and Ryan & Jamie Collins & 3 children; Tara Tempesta and Max Tempesta; Alyssa & Tuireann O’Neill, Jake Wise, and Alyssa Wise; his stepmother Janette Jackson; aunts Dale Tempesta (& Kevin Libby), Carol D’Amboise and Deanna (& Kevin) Kneeland, uncles Jerry Tempesta and David (& Mavis) Pomeroy, and many cousins including Ed Fournier, Chesari Tempesta and Barbara Pomeroy; best friends Paul & Monette Dibden; many other good friends both in-person and online; and his ex-wife Kathy Barton in Maryland.
A Celebration of Life was held on Friday, June 19, 2020, in the front yard of Crystal & David Trask’s home in Vassalboro, using social distancing guidelines due to the pandemic. In attendance were all of Mark’s siblings and both brothers-in-law; mother Linda; stepmother Janette Jackson; Nichelle, Tara and Max; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends and coworkers. Music was provided by Mark’s best friend Paul Dibden, cousins Ed Fournier and Jasmine Fournier, aunt Dale Tempesta and uncle Kevin Libby.
A family graveside service is being planned for later this fall, when Mark’s ashes will be interred at the North Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, Maine.
Care has been provided by Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home of Waterville, Maine. www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com
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