A lifelong resident of Hammonton, N.J., died peacefully in his sleep on January 16, 2008.
Born on March 18, 1931, Mark was the eldest child of Anthony R.\’Tony\’ DeMarco and his wife Gladys. He graduated from Hammonton High School in 1947 and received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Villanova University in 1952. From there he continued his education at Dickinson Law School in Carlisle, PA, where he received his L.L.B. in 1957, and was admitted to the NJ Bar in 1959. During his lifetime, Mark was many things: a lawyer, a writer, a politician, a gastronome, a farm owner, a horse racing aficionado, an expert in land use and municipal law, a friend, a husband, a father and a grandfather.
As a devoted public servant, Mark was a Town Solicitor and Planning Board Solicitor for over 100 cumulative years for the following municipalities: Hammonton, Woodland Township, Bass River Township, Mt. Laurel Township and Mullica Township.
He won a significant case in 1976 in front of the NJ Supreme Court on behalf of Woodland Township regarding the appropriate zoning of senior citizen housing, and argued nine cases successfully before the NJ Appellate Court.
Mark was a past President and General Counsel of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He was passionate about the thoroughbred racing industry, and was an acknowledged expert in the lineage and handicapping of horses throughout the country. Mark also owned horses for a number of years, including the stakes winners Dry Stream and Carolyn Diane. Of particular importance today, Mark wrote the original study on off-track betting submitted to the New Jersey Racing Commission in 1976.
Mark was devoted to South Jersey, specifically the municipalities of Chatsworth and Hammonton. The town of Chatsworth was special to Mark because it was the place where his father began the farming, produce brokerage, and trucking concern that later became A. R. DeMarco Enterprises and Chatsworth Cranberry Association. ARD/CCA was one of the largest suppliers of cranberries to Ocean Spray until its sale in December 2003. Mark was a part owner and officer of those businesses during its years of operation.
In Hammonton, Mark was a faithful public servant, both in terms of his work for the municipality, as well as his Chairmanship of the local Democratic party for many years. He was also Past President of the Hammonton Exchange Club and a member of the Knights of Columbus.In his later years, Mark spent much of his time pursuing creative writing. By the time of his death, he had written one novel, two screenplays and a play.
Mark married the love of his life, the former Lucy Falciani, on August 27, 1960. She survives him, as does his four children and six grandsons. They are Anthony and Jennifer DeMarco of Lancaster, PA and their sons, Roman, Noble and Alexander; Barbara DeMarco of Princeton, NJ, and her son Christopher Reiche; Kathleen and Emory Van Cleve of Chestnut Hill, PA and their sons Jackson and Emerson; and Mark A. DeMarco of Winchester, VA.
The family will be receiving visitors at Mark\’s home in Hammonton on Friday evening, January 18th, from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. On Saturday, January 19th, the family will be receiving people from 9:30 until 12:00pm, at St. Anthony de Padua Church, 285 Route 206 in Hammonton, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 12:00 pm. There will be a private burial, but the family wishes to invite all guests to Tomasello\’s Winery at 225 North White Horse Pike for a reception following the mass.
Donations may be made in honor of Mark to the Hammonton Rescue Squad, 231 Fairview Ave., Hammonton, NJ 08037-1799 or to the charity of their choice.
Arrangements by D\’ANJOLELL MEMORIAL HOME, of Broomall, PA www.danjolell.com
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