June 6, 1950-August 1, 2025

Mark Monroe Fenicle was born June 6, 1950, in Denver, Colorado to George and Shirley Fenicle. He was the first child of the young couple that had just started their life journey together. With his bright red hair and sparkling blue eyes, he made the promise of a wonderful start for the new family.

The family moved to California where George found employment at Mare Island and the family lived in Vallejo. Mark was a happy little boy who was involved in Cub Scouts and played little league baseball. By this time, his two sisters had joined the family. He was a proud big brother who loved to play hide and seek with them as well as the neighborhood kids. Close to his home was a nearby stream where he enjoyed finding salamanders and frogs and frequently brought them home to his mother.

When Mark was 10, he was diagnosed with polio and became very ill and spent 6 months in the hospital. Though he had to be away from his family, he was always happy. When his sisters went to visit, he had sugar packets waiting for them. When he was finally able to go home, the hard work began. His mother helped with physical therapy and had to fight with the school to keep Mark in regular classes. His school wanted him in classes for the mentally impaired children, but Mark was an exceptional child. His mother did not allow polio to ruin his education and her hard work paid off as he was allowed in regular classes.

Polio had damaged some muscles in Mark’s legs, but never his spirit. He got his driver’s license at 16 and even became certified in diving. He spent many days diving off boats in the Pacific Ocean.

Mark attended UC Berkely where he received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and was introduced to the disabled students program. He made many lifelong friends there and adopted a passion for helping others with disabilities that followed him for the rest of his life.

Mark worked for the Veterans Administration for over 30 years. He began working in San Francisco at the Veteran’s Hospital and wrote contracts and made sure veterans were treated fairly. In the 80’s, Mark moved to El Paso, Texas. While there, he learned to love hot peppers. He was proud of his ability to endure the heat and would kid his family about not being able to eat ghost peppers. Texas was where he really started to enjoy the art of cooking.


Mark spent the remainder of his career in San Francisco where he retired and moved to Grass Valley. He became involved with FREED-Center for Independent Living, eventually serving on the Board of Directors. He volunteered for over a decade helping people with disabilities and the elderly. He helped teach independent living skills and find accessible and affordable housing. He enjoyed being a part of the program and spent many hours working to make FREED an even better place.

Mark also enjoyed Toastmasters. There he learned the skills involved in public speaking and how to write a good speech. He used some of these skills in his work with FREED.

Mark loved music. He played his guitar while singing beautiful, and sometimes silly songs into the early hours of the morning.

Mark owned a beautiful home in Grass Valley and had it fitted to make it easy for him to move about and maximized mobility. He was especially proud of his wonderful deck and lovely herb garden. He also had his van customize to himself. He could take his wheelchair with him and did not need additional help. He had always kept his independence and valued that.

Mark left this earth on August 1, 2025. He is survived by his mother, Shirley, sisters Laura and Polly, nieces Heather and Christie, and great nephews, River and Lucky.

He is preceded in death by his father, George Fenicle.

Mark was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

A celebration of life will be held September 20, 2025 at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at Hooper and Weaver Mortuary, 459 Hollow Way Nevada City, CA 95957.