Welcome to the memorial page for
Mark Bernard Gunning
January 13, 1955 ~ September 25, 2017 (age 62) 62 Years Old Light a Candle
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Message from Tom Dolan
October 23, 2017 9:54 PM
Dear Paul, Mike and the entire Gunning Family,
Just heard of your brothers passing. Please accept my deepest sympathy at this time. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Just heard of your brothers passing. Please accept my deepest sympathy at this time. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
A candle was lit by Mary Norton Bobrowski
on October 5, 2017 11:27 AM
Message from Valerie Doran
October 4, 2017 12:27 PM
I was so saddened to hear of Mark's passing, and at the same time, so deeply impressed by the wonderful, dedicated, compassionate life he led. Mark and I were good friends many years ago, during our time as students at Monsignor Clarke School in Wakefield. Even back then I always admired his subtle wit, friendly spirit and strong sense of self. We lost touch over the years, especially after I moved to Asia, but I always remembered him and wished him well. My deepest sympathy to his family and many many friends. Valerie
A candle was lit by Valerie Doran
on October 4, 2017 12:22 PM
Message from Janice DeFrances
October 3, 2017 2:04 PM
I was so sorry to hear of Mark's passing. He truly was a wonderful individual and exemplary educator. I was fortunate to know Mark through his work at Narragansett School District and then at R.I. College. He was a deeply compassionate teacher who cared for each student. He is will be missed by many. My deepest condolences to his family.
Message from Diane Tripler and Donn Frageau
October 3, 2017 8:26 AM
Mark lived with us during his tenure at the Block Island School from 1989 to 1990, I think. Mark was an advocate and friend to our son Nathaniel who needed his loving guidance. He was instrumental in helping Nathaniel to understand he was a good person. Marks sense of humor was infectious, we had some great times together, we loved him, we still speak of how he made our lives better. he will be missed by all the people who's lives he touched, as well as all the people who he had yet to meet. Pleas accept our heart felt condolences.
A candle was lit by Mary Norton Bobrowski
on October 1, 2017 10:59 AM
Message from Debbie Abruzzini
September 29, 2017 10:34 PM
I was heartsick when I heard of Mark's passing. I had the privilege to work with and sit next to Mark for 10 years. He was a gentleman, a scholar and a friend. He was always ready with an idea, a kind word or a hand. There was no one that could get a room laughing at stories like he could. He was the best at lifting up my spirts with a pot of great tea and a snack. Mark was a natural teacher. He just didn't talk the talk and hope it stuck, he taught. No matter what age, he could connect and teach them. He made a difference in more lives than he could ever know, mne included. My deepest sympathies to all of Mark's family.
Message from Georgiann Phipps
September 29, 2017 3:51 PM
On behalf of Jill Zeno and myself, our heartfelt condolences on your loss. Taken much too soon, Mark will live on in our memories as a source of happiness and laughter - and great food.
Message from Georgiann Phipps
September 29, 2017 3:51 PM
On behalf of Jill Zeno and myself, our heartfelt condolences on your loss. Taken much too soon, Mark will live on in our memories as a source of happiness and laughter - and great food.
A candle was lit by jeanne
on September 29, 2017 1:22 PM
Heartfelt condolences to Ed and the Gunning family.
It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to love them, but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them.
Nothing can be compared, to the memories we have shared. Mark was a true friend who will be forever missed. As they say as long as we have memories he will live on in our lives forever.
Heartfelt condolences to Ed and the Gunning family.
It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, and a day to love them, but it takes an entire lifetime to forget them.
Nothing can be compared, to the memories we have shared. Mark was a true friend who will be forever missed. As they say as long as we have memories he will live on in our lives forever.
A candle was lit by Judi Scott
on September 29, 2017 7:58 AM
I remember Mark well as a student teacher at SKHS. Respected by students and colleagues, Mark excelled at engaging his students in learning from his first week of classroom teaching. His sensitivity, his passion, and his sense of humor were emblematic of a gifted educator. Condolences to his many loved ones.
I remember Mark well as a student teacher at SKHS. Respected by students and colleagues, Mark excelled at engaging his students in learning from his first week of classroom teaching. His sensitivity, his passion, and his sense of humor were emblematic of a gifted educator. Condolences to his many loved ones.
A candle was lit by Keri Rossi-D'entremont
on September 29, 2017 7:00 AM
A candle was lit by Sue Dell
on September 28, 2017 9:07 PM
Mark was such a positive influence in my life. He could make even the most stressful day a bit easier with his hearty laugh, his engaging smile and his wicked sense of humor. I will remember him often and always on St. Patrick's Day. Mark would bring in Irish Soda Bread each year to celebrate his special day.....feeding others was only one of his many, many special abilities.
Rest in peace Mark.
Mark was such a positive influence in my life. He could make even the most stressful day a bit easier with his hearty laugh, his engaging smile and his wicked sense of humor. I will remember him often and always on St. Patrick's Day. Mark would bring in Irish Soda Bread each year to celebrate his special day.....feeding others was only one of his many, many special abilities.
Rest in peace Mark.
A candle was lit by Sue Dell
on September 28, 2017 9:07 PM
Mark was such a positive influence in my life. He could make even the most stressful day a bit easier with his hearty laugh, his engaging smile and his wicked sense of humor. I will remember him often and always on St. Patrick's Day. Mark would bring in Irish Soda Bread each year to celebrate his special day.....feeding others was only one of his many, many special abilities.
Rest in peace Mark.
Mark was such a positive influence in my life. He could make even the most stressful day a bit easier with his hearty laugh, his engaging smile and his wicked sense of humor. I will remember him often and always on St. Patrick's Day. Mark would bring in Irish Soda Bread each year to celebrate his special day.....feeding others was only one of his many, many special abilities.
Rest in peace Mark.
A candle was lit by Sue Dell
on September 28, 2017 9:07 PM
Mark was such a positive influence in my life. He could make even the most stressful day a bit easier with his hearty laugh, his engaging smile and his wicked sense of humor. I will remember him often and always on St. Patrick's Day. Mark would bring in Irish Soda Bread each year to celebrate his special day.....feeding others was only one of his many, many special abilities.
Rest in peace Mark.
Mark was such a positive influence in my life. He could make even the most stressful day a bit easier with his hearty laugh, his engaging smile and his wicked sense of humor. I will remember him often and always on St. Patrick's Day. Mark would bring in Irish Soda Bread each year to celebrate his special day.....feeding others was only one of his many, many special abilities.
Rest in peace Mark.
Message from Aaron McGinley, Former Student and friend
September 28, 2017 7:54 PM
Mark meant so much to me. He was my teacher at Narragansett high school when I was a depressed, scattered,overwhelmed freshman and for years after that. He always kept this old cigar box in his classroom, filled with Chocolate Devil dogs. If I was having a bad day, he knew it was time to put the books down, and focus on what's important. He used to say "you know, there 's few problems in life that can't be solved with a good cigar." and he'd talk to me for a few minutes. I always felt better. When I got into it with a teacher, he was a savage advocate, making sure I was understood. Now , years later, I am a therapist and a program director that works with children with special needs, and train a large team of staff on how to see and treat our students the way that Mark saw and treated me.. Daily I channel his compassion and his knowledge in the hopes that I can someday influence a child in the way that Mark influenced me. There would be no way I would have graduated high school without him. He was a great teacher, but a better human being. I will miss him dearly.
A candle was lit by Karen Shabshelowitz
on October 1, 2017 9:07 AM
Mark had a HUGE STELLAR impact on me as a parent of a special education student in a public school. Previously to his arrival at Narragansett High School (RI), I felt alone, battered, abused, misunderstood, ignored, scathingly hurt, and on the outside of the fortress trying to initiate change from within the school system but feeling little of no support from the inside. I would enter the school crying like a faucet that could not turn off, feeling like I wanted to throw up and feeling worn out and exhausted and afraid. Years of fighting, arguing and groveling had resulted in many raw battle scars that seemed quite unnecessary but vital to my son's progress in the future. Frankly I was appalled and angry that so many teachers, school administrators, special education directors just didn't get it, just didn't care , were lazy or too intimidated to try to learn new methods, new techniques, new ideas, new strategies and were not willing to advocate for their students. My absolute feeling was either do it right, try again and again and again or get out of the arena and find another profession. These words might seem brutal, unmannerly, disrespectful, etc....I really don't care. I was a single mother fighting desperately for my child in a very critical hurtful abusive situation in a school.
My son wrote in his sixth grade state writing sample (paraphrased) that school was the worst place he ever visited because they tried to teach him what he already knew and didn't know how to teach him what he needed to know. He had very severe dysgraphia and the prompt was to write about the best place and the worst place that he had ever visited. School was the worst place, especially special education. I learned that when the essays were evaluated at the state level one of the readers stood up and asked all the evaluators to listen to my son's essay. She was only able to read it because I had gone into the middle school that morning and spoken to the principal and told him that I would file a complaint with every agency known to human man if they did not allow my son to use a computer or typewriter so they could evaluate his written expression appropriately.
At that time, there was not a single educator who was supporting his needs in an appropriate way. I didn't understand why teachers and administrators were not more educated appropriately and why they couldn't connect the dots. They just didn't get it!
Mark's club house was his classroom- an etched out corner of a hallway closet which was lovingly known by Mark and his students as the Green Monster (Fenway 2). It was better than any Eating Club at Princeton University as far as being an oasis for students who were very often excluded but were welcome with open caring arms and understanding. Thank you Mark. You had a profound impact on many that will live on for generations. L'Chaim ( To life).
Mark had a HUGE STELLAR impact on me as a parent of a special education student in a public school. Previously to his arrival at Narragansett High School (RI), I felt alone, battered, abused, misunderstood, ignored, scathingly hurt, and on the outside of the fortress trying to initiate change from within the school system but feeling little of no support from the inside. I would enter the school crying like a faucet that could not turn off, feeling like I wanted to throw up and feeling worn out and exhausted and afraid. Years of fighting, arguing and groveling had resulted in many raw battle scars that seemed quite unnecessary but vital to my son's progress in the future. Frankly I was appalled and angry that so many teachers, school administrators, special education directors just didn't get it, just didn't care , were lazy or too intimidated to try to learn new methods, new techniques, new ideas, new strategies and were not willing to advocate for their students. My absolute feeling was either do it right, try again and again and again or get out of the arena and find another profession. These words might seem brutal, unmannerly, disrespectful, etc....I really don't care. I was a single mother fighting desperately for my child in a very critical hurtful abusive situation in a school.
My son wrote in his sixth grade state writing sample (paraphrased) that school was the worst place he ever visited because they tried to teach him what he already knew and didn't know how to teach him what he needed to know. He had very severe dysgraphia and the prompt was to write about the best place and the worst place that he had ever visited. School was the worst place, especially special education. I learned that when the essays were evaluated at the state level one of the readers stood up and asked all the evaluators to listen to my son's essay. She was only able to read it because I had gone into the middle school that morning and spoken to the principal and told him that I would file a complaint with every agency known to human man if they did not allow my son to use a computer or typewriter so they could evaluate his written expression appropriately.
At that time, there was not a single educator who was supporting his needs in an appropriate way. I didn't understand why teachers and administrators were not more educated appropriately and why they couldn't connect the dots. They just didn't get it!
Mark's club house was his classroom- an etched out corner of a hallway closet which was lovingly known by Mark and his students as the Green Monster (Fenway 2). It was better than any Eating Club at Princeton University as far as being an oasis for students who were very often excluded but were welcome with open caring arms and understanding. Thank you Mark. You had a profound impact on many that will live on for generations. L'Chaim ( To life).
A candle was lit by Kayla
on September 28, 2017 6:34 PM
A Spathiphyllum was sent on September 28, 2017
Mark was a colleague and most importantly, a friend. I will miss his hearty laugh and nonstop stories. Sincerely, Jonathan Dyson
Message from Lee Conwell
September 28, 2017 4:24 PM
While I never met Mark I know and work with his brother Paul. From Mark's obituary it sounds like he and Paul share the traits of passion for family and story telling. I have the highest regard for the Gunning family and send my sincere condolences.
Message from Peg McNerney
September 28, 2017 12:54 PM
I knew Mark through my work at the Sherlock Center on Disabilities. I will always remember his friendly personality, his generosity, and his great stories! He did make Saint Patrick's Day special with his tea and Irish bread. I can still picture his teapot on the window sill in his office. He will be missed.
A candle was lit by Lea Colardo
on September 28, 2017 6:53 AM
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