Mark Jeffrey John Anthony Pietka passed away peacefully on Friday, July 16, 2021 at his home after a long courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 70 years old. Born to the late Margaret and Edmund Pietka in Stamford, Connecticut, Mark shared his childhood with his older brother Michael and his younger sister JoAnn. The family owned and operated Oven Fresh Bakery which was the center of their lives and a source of many fond memories. It was there that he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Kathleen Fisher.
Throughout his life, Mark always prized education. As a young man, he attended high school at St. John’s Seminary with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor in upstate New York where he cemented his love of learning and made many lifelong friends. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Connecticut. Once his children were grown, he returned to school and received a Doctorate in International Business Management from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
Mark spent his career as an executive in the beverage production industry working for Nabisco, PepsiCo, DelMonte and Cadbury Beverages. His work gave him the opportunity to travel the world; he visited dozens of countries on six of the seven continents. Mark loved his work and valued the relationships that he had with his colleagues. Above all, Mark cherished his family. He loved being a dad…almost as much as he loved being a grandpa.
Mark was predeceased by his parents, Margaret Pietka Rosenzweig and Edmund Pietka, his brother Edmund Pietka and his sister JoAnn Zaveruha, his step-father, Herbert Rosenzweig and his step-brother Robert Rosenzweig. He leaves so many special memories to his lifelong friend and caretaker Kathleen Fisher Pietka, his daughters Jamie Pietka (David) and Bartan Pietka (Chris), his sons David Pietka and Christian Pietka, his grandchildren Bailey, Lexi and Leo, his brother Michael Pietka (Mary), his step-sister Etta Martens (Charlie) and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and caretakers.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 11am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1401 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, Florida. Please wear a face mask if you are able to join us in person. The mass will be live streamed for those unable to attend in person via the church's website: www.stelizabethannseton.org
In lieu of flowers, donations to the good works of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, PO Box 300 Graymoor, Garrison, NY 10524 (attention Father Emil Tomaskovic, SA) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation are appreciated.
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