Mark Joseph Lamothe

Mark Joseph Lamothe, age 64, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 01, 2024. Born in Brighton, Massachusetts on July 16, 1959, he was the son of the late Roger M. and Rita L. (Conty) Lamothe. Mark was raised in Walpole, Massachusetts where he attended Walpole High School. As a youth, Mark was athletic, but after a sports injury, Mark stepped away from playing and became an avid fan.  During High School, he became editor of The Rebellion, the school's newspaper. Working as a student reporter inspired a passion for photography and allowed Mark to showcase his creative side. His time on the newspaper also introduced him to a fellow student named Gail Sundberg. The pair had their first date on New Year's Eve, 1976. 

Mark graduated from Walpole High School with the class of 1977 and went on to attend the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts. In 1981, after four years of hard work and dedication, Mark walked the stage with his fellow Minutemen to receive his Bachelor of Business Administration degree. After graduation, Mark went to work for the Pace Consulting Group in Hartford, Connecticut as a junior business consultant, helping to maximize strategy, add value, and resolve issues for their clients. Mark remained with Pace for a year before returning to his studies, heading out to Chicago, Illinois to attend Northwestern University. 

All throughout college Mark remained with his sweetheart, Gail. In the summers he would drive three hours every Monday morning to visit Gail on her day off from work at Camp Calumet in Freedom, New Hampshire, enjoying seeing her smile upon his arrival. During the school year they would call each other to share the exciting news in their lives and would visit any chance they could. Eight years after their first date and many miles between, Mark married the love of his life, Gail H. Sundberg, on May 19, 1984, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood, Massachusetts.

Now a wedded man, Mark returned to Chicago for his second year at Northwestern with his beautiful bride by his side. A year later, in 1985, Mark graduated from Northwestern with his Master of Business Administration. The pair then moved to Yardley, Pennsylvania where Mark had accepted a marketing position at Johnson and Johnson in their Baby Product Division. At Johnson and Johnson, Mark was learning about the best kinds of diapers, wipes, and baby shampoos, which was a good thing because in 1986 Mark and Gail welcomed their first child, Megan. 

In 1987, Mark took a product manager position with the Gillette company and the young family moved back east, settling into the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A growing family needs space though, and in 1988 Mark and Gail purchased their first home together in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Mark was excited to become a homeowner, having a place to call his own. In Attleboro, Mark and Gail found community at the Immanuel Lutheran Church. The pair took on active roles volunteering as youth group directors and helping to share their faith with the younger generations. 

In 1990, Mark took on the role of Vice President of Marketing with Gorton's of Gloucester, moving to a new home in Beverly, Massachusetts. Mark continued to be active in his faith in his new home, attending the First Baptist Church in Beverly, and later, when the kids were a bit older and could manage a longer car ride, attending the Faith Lutheran Church in Andover, Massachusetts, volunteering in any way that he could. 

Mark thrived in Beverly, immersing himself in his community and becoming the quintessential Dad. Mark had a long-time love of music and the arts, which shared with his children, especially with his daughters, Megan and Faith. He found a way to show this passion for the arts, his family, and his community by volunteering with the kids' music department at school. If they needed a volunteer for an activity or fundraiser, Mark was sure to be there; whether it was building sets for the musicals or raising funds by running the concession stands at the football games, you could count on Mark to be there to lend a hand. Mark also passed on his love for sports to his son Michael, which led to many opportunities to bond at the batting cages and during practices, as he coached Little League for many years. Hours were spent cracking the bat, sharing time together that they would both cherish. At home, Mark did his best to help his children grow into kind, caring, and competent adults. He showed them how to persevere and not be afraid of challenges. Mark and Gail regularly opened their doors to friends and family, and even to people they did not know - opting to host several exchange students over the years from France, Denmark, Norway, and Italy, introducing them to their world with welcome arms.

When not working or volunteering, Mark enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. He loved going to college hockey games with Michael, getting the best seats they could find and enjoying the action on the ice. If Bruce Springsteen was in town, you bet he and Gail were going to be there, singing along like they were on the streets of Philadelphia and dancing in the dark. Mark and Gail also grew to be big fans of Michael McDermott, traveling to see him many times over the years. Often, it was Faith who joined Mark for concerts, as the pair shared many favorite musicians and enjoyed the chance to go out as father and daughter for a fun evening. In 2002, Mark and Gail found themselves back in Freedom, New Hampshire, purchasing a vacation house on the lake to retreat to when the hustle and bustle of the city became too much. This brought many new adventures for the family like kayaking, boating, swimming, and relaxing around the firepit at the end of the day.

In his business career, Mark held many titles over the years: Marketing Manager, Vice President of Marketing, and Company President. He worked for not only Gorton’s, but also for High Liner Seafood, Pizzeria Uno’s, and Good Harbor Seafood, managing daily operations and organizing forward thinking strategies to accomplish their goals.

In 2013, he received one of the titles that he was most proud of, that of Dada, which he had called his own grandfather. He could not get in the car fast enough to get to the hospital to shower Megan with love and meet Helen. He was thrilled again, just a few short years later, when he became a grandfather once more, this time to Henry.

In 2016, inspired by Gail’s work as a special educator, Mark left big business behind and went to work for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. As Senior Vice President of Marketing for the non-profit, Mark loved his job, with the ability to give back so much to his community and do meaningful work. 

In 2018, with the kids all grown and out on their own adventures, Mark and Gail sold their home in Beverly and made their vacation home in Freedom, NH their full-time home. Mark loved being surrounded by nature, listening to the quiet and looking out at the lake.  This peacefulness provided Mark with a relaxing calm that he appreciated so much after many years of city living. 

After his time at the United Way, Mark took a sales position with Erie Construction. Mark loved this job most of all.  He enjoyed driving the roads of New England, meeting new people every day, and selling roofs. The salesmen with whom he worked were often younger than him and he enjoyed mentoring them and the energy they brought to each day. 

Mark enjoyed traveling with Gail, visiting her family in Sweden and many other countries. Mark was an avid traveler his whole life, visiting Europe and the Caribbean, as well as almost all the States in the Union, with trips as far as Alaska and Hawaii, and to locations like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. 

In his free time, Mark enjoyed photography, a passion from his youth that was reignited when his daughter, Faith, majored in photography in college. He captured many beautiful sunrises over the lake, the changing of the leaves, and the clouds at dusk. Mark was also often found singing a song, recording over six hundred songs and sharing them with friends and family. He had a knack for music and sports facts, being someone you would absolutely want on your team during a trivia night. Mark loved theater and live sports, and watched every European murder mystery show that he could find, even if it meant watching with subtitles on. 

Mark's family was the most important aspect of his life. He cherished and valued his wife Gail, his partner for all the ups and downs that life brought them, loving and strong by his side. His children were his pride, thrilled to become  a father three times over, watching them strive for happiness, and supporting them and cheering them on the entire way. His grandchildren were his joy, breathing new life into him, calling them to chat, creating traditions like his silly "donut donut" chant with Henry when they got the tasty treats or taking Helen out sledding or on the boat.

Beloved husband of Gail H. (Sundberg) Lamothe

Loving father of Megan H. Hess, and her husband Scott, of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Michael J. Lamothe of Park City, Utah, and Faith T. Martel, and her husband Matthew, of Effingham, New Hampshire

Cherished Dada of Helen Hess and Henry Hess

Brother of Marie J. Bagarella, and her husband Joseph, of North Attleborough, David P. Lamothe, and his wife Nok, of Wilmington, and Peter T. Lamothe, and his wife, Jennifer McGrady Heath, of Hamden, Connecticut

Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, extended family, friends, and colleagues.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Mark's Memorial Service on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 24 Berwick Street in Norwood, at 11:00 AM. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mark's name may be made to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Search and Rescue division by visiting https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt746/files/inline-images/donate-form-nhfg.pdf and selecting ‘Search and Rescue’ on your donation form.

Arrangements by James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, Walpole.