Mark Joseph Fahey

Mark was born and raised in Florissant, Missouri by James and Edna Fahey. He grew up exploring the natural world along Fountain and Coldwater Creeks. He fell in love with the Rockies as a child on a camping trip to Rocky Mountain National Park with his family. He received his degree in geology at Southwest Missouri State after completing field camp in Utah and numerous fossil collecting trips across the country.

Mark’s first job out of college was with the Defense Mapping Agency in St. Louis where he became a cartographer. In 1982, he moved to take a position with the US Geological Survey at the Denver Federal Center. His last projects before retiring in 2018 involved working with leading climate scientists to map the recession of glaciers on multiple continents.

Mark’s well honed sense of humor will be long remembered by all who knew him. He was a kind and generous man who was a ready helper for his wife, daughter and wide circle of friends. His gardening and dessert making skills were legendary and many enjoyed his special treats of quiches, cookies and multilayer cakes.

Mark loved the wilderness and was President of the Outdoor Club in college and a leader for the Colorado Mountain Club’s Wilderness Kids, leading many canoe and camping trips. He commuted long distances to work on his road bike for years and completed multiple Ride the Rockies, one made extra hard by riding his mountain bike the whole way.

Mark met the love of his life, Barbara, on a Colorado Mountain Club backpack trip in 1991. They married in 1995 at a memorable wedding on a foggy mountain top. They had 33 sunny years together hiking, cross country skiing and exploring the trails of Colorado and Europe while raising their daughter Shannon. He was a devoted father, always ready with a ball, bike or book to have hours of fun with his beloved daughter.

Mark was a history buff and could cite places, dates and details of many WWII battles. His knowledge of minerals and fossils was extensive and he loved sharing his expertise with others. A student of nature, he could identify many birds by their song and wildflowers by name. Mark had a special fondness for classical music especially from the Baroque period. He and Barbara spent many happy times attending classical concerts and hiking or picnicking on the lawn beforehand. He was a woodworker and antique restorer who crafted many beautiful and useful objects for the home.

Mark will be dearly missed by all who knew him as the trusted and treasured friend, husband, father, brother and uncle that he was. Mark was preceded in death by his parents and brother Jim, and is survived by his wife Barbara and daughter Shannon; sister Sherry Williams and her husband Doug Williams; his niece, her husband and son, Amy, Morey and Ethan Blinder; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mark loved all things old from fossils to antiques to historic homes. For those who wish, donations may be made in his name to https://historicboulder.org/ or https://coloscisoc.org/