Its with a very heavy heart I write this tonight.

Mark lost his battle with cancer this morning. He fought bravely for around 3 or 4 years and was in quite good health even a few months ago but has been hospitalised the past few weeks. We played cards by his bed with another mate on Saturday night and he was in a happy, positive frame of mind and even gaining physical strength for a few days when out of nowhere he felt really crook so we let him get some rest. Its the last time I heard from him.

He was as passionate a Demon as you could find and like many of us, a very nervous unit when watching us play. He would get so nervous when watching at home that he`d get up and fold washing or put dishes away when things got tight in the last qtr. rather than watch the TV. He has been a player sponsor for around 9 years of Jesse Hogan and now Steven May along with having his kids being members for sometime so has made a significant financial contribution to our great club for a long time.

Many of you may remember him being quite open about losing his wife to cancer 4 years ago. The only positive I can find from this is that he is now with her, I know he missed her terribly. He leaves behind 3 young kids who will live the rest of their lives without parents, and 2 older kids who need to somehow get on with their own lives and bring up those younger kids. Life can be bloody cruel at times.

I told him wherever he ends up that I`ll drink a bottle of his favourite scotch with him when we win the flag, but did joke that I`ll likely be on the other side of hell with him when that happens.

I want to add how grateful I am to the MFC, particularly Tamara who I`ve been in close contact with in regards to Marks health. She organised an MFC polo and cap (Mark wore a Mark Neeld era polo nearly every single day since I met him) along with a handwritten card of support from Big Max. It arrived on Friday by express post, any later and he`d never have seen it.The smile on his face was priceless.

 

RIP Mark, I miss you buddy.

That is heartbreaking. RIP Mark 

Edited January 19, 20214 yr by Grapeviney

HB very sorry to hear. I recall his story about his wife and himself, very sad to hear cancer claimed him and leaves behind the kids. I totally feel the doing the washing or folding clothes piece nowadays haha.
 

Cancer is a [censored], I went to see my old man who died 20ys ago on the 16th of Jan in Apollo Bay. We spread his ashes in the ocean across the road from our family house on the Great Ocean Road.
 

He was a mad Dees man, he used to wear a Dees track suit (top and bottoms),scarf/hat (depending on season) and on those really cold days the full length Dees coat over the top. An impressive site I’ll never forget.
 

The last game we got to was the 2000 granny, but one of my most vidid memories was taking him out of hospital and wheeling him down Swanston st in a wheel chair (The Docs and Mum said he wasn’t allowed to go as he was so sick, he demanded I do the right thing by him and take him) for the Reconciliation March. He was a staunch/aggressive anti-rascist/advocate for the indigenous community. He had a smile the whole time even though I kept having to take him to the side of the road for him to vomit and then at the end of the March I had to lay him down to sleep until he had enough strength for the return leg. Possibly the proudest I’ve ever been. 

RIP Mark and Bryan.

Ahhh [censored]

R.I.P. Mark.

Hope you are with your wife buddy.

So sorry to hear this sad news 'Hell Bent'...although I didn't know him personally you could tell he was a passionate supporter. He came across as one of the good guys when posting on here.

As '@Grapeviney' says it's heartbreaking...I just feel for his kids.

R.I.P Mark

Edited January 19, 20214 yr by rjay

very sad

all the best to his family

Such sad news. Sending all the best to his family. 

R.I.P Mark, love to your family and look over us all from up above.

May peace be with you.

Dees Forever.

RIP Mark.

RIP Mark, condolences to family and friends.

R.I.P Mark, thoughts are with family and friends at this time.

RIP Mark

Peace be with you.

I am sure your young children will be well looked after.

RIP markc

Thank you for your contributions in posting to this site and your financial contributions as a Life Member. 

This brought a tear to my eye, I remember markc's posts about his wife's battle. My thoughts are with his kids, hopefully they have a great support network around them to help them through this horrible time.

Very very sad, and sincere best wishes to Hell Bent and Cards13.

Beautiful stories about how much footy can mean to family and friends and the memories we can share through it.

My condolences @Hell Bent.

Very very sad news.

12 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

Its with a very heavy heart I write this tonight.

Mark lost his battle with cancer this morning. He fought bravely for around 3 or 4 years and was in quite good health even a few months ago but has been hospitalised the past few weeks. We played cards by his bed with another mate on Saturday night and he was in a happy, positive frame of mind and even gaining physical strength for a few days when out of nowhere he felt really crook so we let him get some rest. Its the last time I heard from him.

He was as passionate a Demon as you could find and like many of us, a very nervous unit when watching us play. He would get so nervous when watching at home that he`d get up and fold washing or put dishes away when things got tight in the last qtr. rather than watch the TV. He has been a player sponsor for around 9 years of Jesse Hogan and now Steven May along with having his kids being members for sometime so has made a significant financial contribution to our great club for a long time.

Many of you may remember him being quite open about losing his wife to cancer 4 years ago. The only positive I can find from this is that he is now with her, I know he missed her terribly. He leaves behind 3 young kids who will live the rest of their lives without parents, and 2 older kids who need to somehow get on with their own lives and bring up those younger kids. Life can be bloody cruel at times.

I told him wherever he ends up that I`ll drink a bottle of his favourite scotch with him when we win the flag, but did joke that I`ll likely be on the other side of hell with him when that happens.

I want to add how grateful I am to the MFC, particularly Tamara who I`ve been in close contact with in regards to Marks health. She organised an MFC polo and cap (Mark wore a Mark Neeld era polo nearly every single day since I met him) along with a handwritten card of support from Big Max. It arrived on Friday by express post, any later and he`d never have seen it.The smile on his face was priceless.

 

RIP Mark, I miss you buddy.

Sorry for your lose, but just saying I hate when people say someone lost their battle with cancer, as if those that  die are  losers and those that survive are winners, it's just plan luck.

Oh that is so sad, beyond words. He lost his wife and now himself 

Wow. Markc was a lander for a long time

Whiskey tonight everyone 

Very moving and thoughtful comments. The bitter sweet reflections on life. Demonland at its best. Marks spirit soul lives on in the memories of family and friends. 

It’s always sad to lose a loved one, family or friend.  It just highlights the need to live life when you can. 

I can remember 64 a bit, supported the Dees but never attended.   Never thought it would become a drought.

hope we win a flag and play consistently well over the next couple of years.

the chance may not come around in time for some supporters. RIP. Go Dees 

My deepest condolences to Mark, family and friends, this brought me to tears, we are in the middle of losing a family member, and life can be incredibly hard for loved ones left behind. So hard for his children. Please pass on our love to everyone involved. 

Edited January 20, 20214 yr by jules7
Spelling

1 hour ago, jules7 said:

we are in the middle of losing a family member, and life can be incredibly hard for loved ones left behind. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and friends during this time jules.

Its never an easy time.

Simply heartbreaking, thoughts and love to his kids and family.

In the scheme of things it’s not important but I always valued his contribution to this site, I hope there is something that can be done to help support them.

 

Very sorry to read this news. In the early days of Demonland, he came to my place to borrow some VCR’s of Melbourne games (and returned them in good time). We had a couple of good chats and he was a real dedicated Demon.

Condolences to Mark’s family and friends.

21 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

Its with a very heavy heart I write this tonight.

Mark lost his battle with cancer this morning. He fought bravely for around 3 or 4 years and was in quite good health even a few months ago but has been hospitalised the past few weeks. We played cards by his bed with another mate on Saturday night and he was in a happy, positive frame of mind and even gaining physical strength for a few days when out of nowhere he felt really crook so we let him get some rest. Its the last time I heard from him.

He was as passionate a Demon as you could find and like many of us, a very nervous unit when watching us play. He would get so nervous when watching at home that he`d get up and fold washing or put dishes away when things got tight in the last qtr. rather than watch the TV. He has been a player sponsor for around 9 years of Jesse Hogan and now Steven May along with having his kids being members for sometime so has made a significant financial contribution to our great club for a long time.

Many of you may remember him being quite open about losing his wife to cancer 4 years ago. The only positive I can find from this is that he is now with her, I know he missed her terribly. He leaves behind 3 young kids who will live the rest of their lives without parents, and 2 older kids who need to somehow get on with their own lives and bring up those younger kids. Life can be bloody cruel at times.

I told him wherever he ends up that I`ll drink a bottle of his favourite scotch with him when we win the flag, but did joke that I`ll likely be on the other side of hell with him when that happens.

I want to add how grateful I am to the MFC, particularly Tamara who I`ve been in close contact with in regards to Marks health. She organised an MFC polo and cap (Mark wore a Mark Neeld era polo nearly every single day since I met him) along with a handwritten card of support from Big Max. It arrived on Friday by express post, any later and he`d never have seen it.The smile on his face was priceless.

 

RIP Mark, I miss you buddy.

Terrible news mate but thanks for sharing.   Life sure does suck sometimes. I’d like to pass on my condolences to yourself and all his other friends and family.