Mark V. Purcell

Middletown- Mark V. Purcell, 71, passed away Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Hartford Hospital.

        Mark was born in Torrington on August 21, 1950, son of the late Harry B. and Pearl E. (Luce) Purcell, and had been a Torrington resident most of his life before moving to Middletown 20 years ago. He was a retired teacher with the Torrington School System where he taught Geography for over 30 years. Mark will fondly be remembered by many of his students for the corny jokes he instilled in his daily lessons. Saying things like “Jamaica mistake?”, “Alaska again”, “A neat map is a happy map”.  His love of teaching didn’t end in retirement. Mark volunteered with Read to Succeed, an adult literacy program providing one to one instruction in Hartford, CT. He enjoyed travelling to England and sharing his stories especially the ones about the Queen. He loved attending to and sharing photographs of his house plants, and beloved cat. Mark was a former member of the Torrington Lodge of Elks and Civitan Club.

        Survivors include a sister-in-law, Lucille (Romani) Purcell of Torrington; three nieces, Lisa M. Domaszewski of Surfside Beach, SC, Cheryl Purcell of Murrells Inlet, SC, and Celeste M. Purcell-Turner of Torrington; three nephews, John Purcell of Key West, FL, Thomas Purcell of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Kevin B. Purcell of Torrington; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Mark was predeceased by two brothers, Richard K. Purcell and his wife, Doreen (Battistoni) Purcell, and Kevin M. Purcell.

        Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 11:00a.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington. Burial will follow in New St. Francis Cemetery, Torrington. Friends may call Tuesday, April 12, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. and Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00a.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home.

        Memorial contributions may be made to the American Humane Society, 1400 16th St., NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20036 (americanhumane.org/donate)

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