Mark Thomas Hendry

Mark Thomas Hendry was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, March 20, 1960, the son of James and Caroline Hendry. He died October 13, 2022 in Portland, Maine of a massive heart attack (acute myocardial infarction). He leaves behind his daughter Sabrina (mother Diana Parry); brother, Christopher (wife Gwendolyn, daughters Sophie and Emma); sister, Susan (husband Steve, daughter Alayna [m. Louis Lehman] ) brother Paul (wife Lynn, daughters Olivia and Fiona [m. Michael Smith] ) and mother, Caroline, his aunts Helen Lataille and Joyce Barteld.

Mark loved his early life in South Freeport, the freedom to roam the village with siblings and friends, enjoying the luxury of a safe environment and adventurous play. A neighbor marked the time of day when he heard the thud and thump of his basketball on the road as he bounced it to the school bus.

Mark loved his life as a young adult, crisscrossing the country, pursuing his passion for skateboarding with friends and working the odd jobs that keep a body and soul alive. From early days waiting on table at the Muddy Rudder in Yarmouth, cleaning fish on the Portland waterfront and rehabbing cement floor for a Westbrook company; to sales in San Francisco and Boston; to on-line cooking in Killington Vermont, he had a varied and sundry working life.

He loved the mountains of Vermont and Colorado. Snowboarding skills acquired on Maine hills provided the nourishment of sport, shredding down the slopes at breakneck speed. He was a natural athlete. He did not love sailing lessons at the Harraseeket Yacht Club, spending more time in the water than on it.

He loved his wife Diana, and the joyful result of that union, their daughter Sabrina. Diana was the love of his life, and Sabrina the constant that sustained him. Diana’s untimely death rocked his soul.

He loved family, treasuring the give and take of daily tussles. Presents received at Christmas and birthdays were kept forever, along with the memories of the giver and the attachment to home which he carried with him. He had a close bond with his father. Both men were outgoing and gregarious. His mother never forgave him for devouring the dish of oyster dressing meant for Thanksgiving dinner, as well as the turkey leg that mysteriously disappeared.

Mark loved to read, felt lost without a book in hand. He loved music, tunes he called it, and instantly identified artists and recordings. He followed local bands and wanted to play bass guitar. From a very early age he loved to draw, finding inspiration from daily life. His Basquiat-like drawings on paper with pen and crayon were untutored, but his faces were spot on. Pretty women with blue eyes often made an appearance in his work.

He loved his friends, old and new. From them he received an affirmation of kinship and trust. He didn’t recognize skin color. Black, brown, blue, green, yellow or white, everyone was a “bro.”

And so, we loved Mark. He was generous with whatever his means allowed and he would literally give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

Rest In Peace, son, brother, and father. We will miss your spirit of fun and adventure.

Mark’s friends are organizing a tribute to him at Amigo’s Mexican Restaurant, 9 Dana Street, Portland’s Old Port, on Sunday, November 13 from 1-4 pm. Many thanks to Bruce Mills, the restaurant owner. And a special thank you to Jim Marchant, Mark’s good friend, and the Portland Fire and Rescue Service. They valiantly tried to save him.