Mark J. Krivanich

Mark Joseph Krivanich, age 61, of Milton Delaware, passed away peacefully at home, in the company of his wife, sister, and close friends, at 8:32 a.m. on Saturday May 28, 2022. Mark traced his family roots to and spent his early years growing up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. As a youngster, he got into roller skating and played ice hockey. He would typically be the winner of the weekly Monday Limbo skating contest at Saint Justin Grade School. He also developed his love for all things water at an early age. He competed in swimming and diving while in school. He was a 3rd generation gardener, following in the tradition of his father and grandfather, all of whom took great pride in growing abundant vegetables and award-winning blooms. He left Pittsburgh and headed West, ultimately relocating to Santa Barbara, California, where he established himself as a skilled aircraft mechanic, and became husband to Carole, his wife of 28 years. In 1999 they moved from California to the East Coast of Sussex County Delaware, making their home in Milton. Mark lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed a long and successful career in the aviation industry, retiring in 2020 from Aloft AeroArchitects in Georgetown Delaware. He was easy-going, social, and full of adventure. An avid and passionate fisherman, he loved being out on the water, whether solo on a pond, or with a group of buddies on the bay, and had fishing stories from the Pacific to the Atlantic and plenty of places in between. He had numerous motorcycles throughout his life and traveled countless miles cruising various roads and highways, sometimes simply for the enjoyment of riding, sometimes to attend the next bike week or rock concert. He was of course a loyal and true Pittsburgh Steelers fan and was able to fulfill a lifelong dream by attending Superbowl XLIII in Tampa Florida on February 1st, 2009, and watching his team win their sixth Lombardi Trophy. Always the consummate entertainer, Mark’s neighbors, friends, and relatives tended to gravitate to wherever he was, be it the deck in the back yard, or some event or gathering hundreds of miles away. He loved to cook and barbeque, and if friends were involved, his focus would always be to ensure that everyone had a good time and never went home empty handed. His annual Huff Road Fourth of July celebrations were always guaranteed to be exciting, loud, and epic. He took great pride in decorating his home for the Christmas holiday celebrations and hosting gatherings to show off his work. Mark was an animal lover, and his home provided a safe and happy haven for an endless entourage of four-legged friends over the years. He supported Carole’s dog hobbies, always making sure her dog van was safe and running strong along with building a variety of agility equipment. His dog Pearl, affectionately known as “Nurse Chook”, went everywhere with him and never left his side. Their comradery was lifelong; she stayed his constant companion to the end. The list of things that Mark was passionate about is long and varied. He had the ability to design, make, fix, repair, or modify anything. He loved technology and assembled his own computers from high-end components. He loved golf and participated in “Golf Boondoggles” and played competitively with his close friends. He loved sushi. He belonged to Mensa International. He was abundantly generous and always willing to offer his time and resources to anyone for anything at any time. Mark’s passing sadly leaves a void, but his life was a triumph. In defiance of the terminal diagnosis he received in January 2020 in the midst of the Covid pandemic, he chose to live the last two years his way, in spite of the unfavorable odds he’d been given. He refused to accept defeat, instead choosing to spend quality time with close friends and relatives. His life provided an infinite supply of moments and memories and stories and smiles and laughter. His energy was tangible, and everyone who had the pleasure of making his acquaintance gained something positive from the experience. He will be sorely missed, but equally and surely remembered. He is survived by his wife Carole, his sister Amy of St. Petersburg, Florida, and a long list of loving family members. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 6, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 609 E. Market Street, Georgetown, DE 19947. A time of Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Interment is private. Donations in lieu of flowers to: Promised Land Dachshund Sanctuary www.pldstexas.org; Gulfstream Guardian Angels Rottweiler Rescue www.ggarr.org; Esophageal Cancer Action Network www.ecan.org Arrangements in the care of Short Funeral Services, Georgetown, DE. Online condolences or tributes are welcome for the family at www.shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com