Mark Kraft, born July 12, 1954, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 11th, 2025. He was predeceased by his parents Kenneth and Claire Kraft and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Richard and Shirley Tuites. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Linda S. (Tuites) Kraft, daughters Amanda (Jonathan) Augustyn and Rebecca Kraft, granddaughters Juliette and Isabelle Augustyn, sister Linda D. Kraft, brothers-in-law Dave (Maho) Tuites, Bill Tuites, Bob (Betsy) Tuties, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A native of the Rochester area, Mark grew up in Greece and spent his career working at Merkel Donahue, making friendships that lasted a lifetime. He and Linda settled with their family in Fairport where they raised their daughters in Hickory Ridge. Mark was a true family man, attending countless swimming and diving meets, water shows, and making life-long friends in the neighborhood. He was happiest when his family was all together. Mark was an avid golfer, playing in multiple leagues and tournaments over the years. He was also a proud Buffalo Bills fan and season ticket holder, as well as a staunch St. Louis Cardinals supporter. One of Mark’s greatest passions was spending time at his cottage on Rushford Lake, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the water.
He will be deeply missed and forever loved.
Calling Hours will be held on Thursday, July 17th, 2025 from 4pm-6pm at Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Egypt Location) 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Road, Fairport, NY 14450. A Memorial Service will be on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 10:30 am, also at Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home. Internment will be immediately following at White Haven Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory can be made to the Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club Rochester, 255 Alexander Street, Rochester, NY 14607.
30 responses to “Kraft, Mark”
Our deepest sympathy and prayers to the family . Mark was always friendly and welcoming to the Barg wives .
Sending Love , Hugs and Prayers .
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family.
So sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. May all the memories of your time together bring you comfort.
Joan and I are sorry for the loss of Mark. He was a very nice man and did indeed cherish his family.
Mark was a role model husband and father. Prayers for all of the family and friends.
Mark and I were best of friends for almost 40 years. He took me under his wing and taught me the office furniture business when I joined Merkel Donohue in 1986. We quickly became friends. And then I decided to take up golf and again he took me under his wing and patiently helped me with the ins and outs of the game. That was Mark. A very giving person. Sharing his knowledge, insights, opinions and most of all his humor. We had a lot of laughs as well as deep discussions about the state of the world over the years.
We quickly started our annual tradition of opening the summer golf season playing at our favorite course “The Wing” (Winged Pheasant Golf Club) on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Mark and I have played a few hundred rounds over the years at the “The Wing”. We ended each round hoisting a beer sitting in the Adirondak chairs overlooking the 18th green under the shade of the Black Walnut tree. We’d watch golfers coming down the fairway interacting with them, catch up on what our daughters were doing, talked sports and solved the problems of the world.
Mark amazed me with his uncanny ability to remember details and talk about his favorite pop music artists like Jackson Brown and lines from his favorite movies. One movie we shared was Bull Durham because of Mark’s love of baseball. This line from the movie is most appropriate. “There are 108 beads in a rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I learned that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn’t work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there’s no guilt in baseball, and it’s never boring,” Annie Savoy by (Susan Sarandon),
Our families also took a vacation together to the Myan Riviera. Our daughters Amanda, Becca, Laura and Smantha had a great time together.
Mark and I share many things with respect to values, family situations and including our journey over the last eleven years dealing with Prostate cancer. Mark helped many men in our Men’s Support group at Cancer Support at Gilda’s Club sharing his story. He was truly one of the best.
I hope Mark is able to find our old MD friends who have passed, “Rears”, Roger and Phil and meet up for a weekly round on that great golf course over the Rainbow
I will dearly miss you, my friend. Peace be with you.
Larry
Mark will be missed by the many friends he made but mostly by his family who he loved so much. Much love and prayers to all of you🙏
My deepest sympathy goes out to you and the family. 🙏💕
“Don’t cry because it is over, Smile because it happened.”
Dr. Seuss
For some reason, this stuck with me when Joe passed away and it did make me smile. Thinking of Linda Tuites Kraft, the girls, grandchildren, son in law, Linda Kraft, family and massive amount of friends that have been accumulated over the years. Mark was a great person and I will always have memories of the yellow convertible going down the Parkway with both Linda’s and America blasting “Horse with No Name” on probably WBBF Radio! Ah, to be young again and have Mark driving us around and never complaining while doing it. Quite the guy for sure! Xox
From the first time we met Mark and every meeting since, Mark was always so friendly, genuine, welcoming and warm hearted. His legacy, found in his beautiful family, will be remembered forever.
Love,
Julie and Brian Borchardt
We’re so sorry to learn of Mark’s passing. He was a wonderful guy that I got to know through teaching with Linda at Clara Barton School No. 2. He readily was able to give me fatherly advice when we had our own twin girls in 1992. He was always fun to talk to at the school parties. He will be greatly missed!
Condolences to Linda and his girls, their families, and to his sister Linda. I have know Mark since being born on Harvest Dr a few years after him. My brother Jim and Mark were friends as Marks’ sister Linda and I were. I was actually Marks first wife-getting “married” in a double ceremony with Jim and Linda in their backyard. We were probably 4 and 7 at the time. The couples shared the same colored Dixie cups of Koolaid in celebration. Many years of wonderful memories growing up on Harvest Dr. Mark will be fondly remembered by many!
Met Mark at Guilda’s club when he was first diagnosed with prostate cancer. He always had a great attitude and a smile on his face. ALWAYS willing to help out many a new member who was also dealing with cancer. We had attended many a Guilda’s meeting, had attended a few lunches, social events and sadly, attended a few funerals of mutual friends. He was a great guy,friend, and will be solely missed.
So sorry to hear of Mark’s passing, He was a great guy to work with at Merkel-Donahue. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you
I’m so sorry to hear of Mark’s passing. I can’t remember a time when Mark wasn’t smiling, laughing, just happy living life. If he saw you looking too serious you’d find his arm over your shoulder with an immediate, “What’s up?” and a funny joke to send you off laughing. May your wonderful memories sustain you. His was truly a life well lived, and he lives on in all of you; all of his beautiful family.
I am so sorry. Like so many, I have fond memories of Mark. He was always very kind to me. I’ve never forgotten the hug he gave me graveside at my mother’s funeral in 1980.
What a wonderful person he was! So many happy memories. Wishing you all peace and strength.
I remember Mark from growing up in the neighborhood. I was eight years younger than him when for a couple of summers he was a fixture at the Autumn Lane summer playground. He left a lasting impression on me as one of the older kids who was kind and never bullied the younger kids and we looked up to him because of that. He was funny and always smiling. I always wondered what happened to him. When I saw his obituary I immediately recognized that smile. Rip Mark, well done
My sympathy to Mark’s family. I remember my next door neighbor on Harvest Drive as kids. Prayers and Hugs
Mark built a beautiful life as a father and husband.
My heart goes out to his family.
I did not know Mark or Linda well, but I liked both of them. I grew up in the 600 block of Harvest Dr. Mark’s wife Linda was in my high school graduating class.
I was so sad to learn of Mark’s passing. My sincere condolences go out to the Kraft and Tuites families. Mark was such a ball of fun, and I have many happy memories of him back in our high school days. Linda Tuites and Linda Kraft, many hugs, and may you find peace in your memories of your Husband and Brother. RIP Mark.
Linda,
I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. We may not have had contact since high school, but I do think about those friends I had then. Hugs and prayers.
Dear Linda
While I haven’t seen you or Mark since high school, I have such fond and fun memories of Mark. He was a special person with a kind heart, a smile or joke for everyone and was a real friend. I was so happy when I learned that you two had married. I’m so glad that you have had all of these years together with a wonderful marriage. Sending sincere sympathy to you and your entire family. Love and prayers.
My sincere condolences to all of Mark’s family. I have wonderful memories with Mark. Especially bowling and softball leagues. His dynamic personality was such a joy to be around. I pray for Linda and all his family. RIP Mark. 🙏🙏🙏
Linda and family, so sorry to hear of Mark’s passing, we had many good times back at Athena,
my thoughts and prayers are with you
Linda and family I am so sorry to hear about Marks passing.
I grew up with Mark on Harvest Dr and I honestly can’t remember Mark not having a smile on his face. He then married my friend Linda and together they have raised a wonderful family. Mark was genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met. His smile will never be forgotten!
My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Linda,and the entire Kraft and tuites families. Very sorry to hear of Marks passing. Great guy who never had a bad thing to say about anyone. My privilege to hav played soccer , baseball , basketball with him. His smile and fun loving personality made him special. God bless u 2/3 marky( inside name between him and I) Mike Lanseer
My condolences to wife Linda and family, Linda Kraft and all extended family representation of three brothers. I have to agree with many others that Mark was a very pleasant person. His smile and sense of humor defined him.
May his memory be Eternal!
Linda and family. I’m sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful father and I will always remember the time I got to know him. He will be missed by many.
I’m so sorry for the passing of Mark. Although we didn’t stay in touch after high school he was the first friend I made after moving from the city to Greece in 1966.