Mark Dillon Shafer

I never met Mark in person.  My dad and his mom have been together for a few years and we were supposed to meet on Sept 24th, 2010.  Instead, I was given the loving task of choosing the picture for his obituary and going with the family as they made the arrangements for his final journey.  He sent me a message on Facebook telling me he had met my brother and sister and wanted to get to know me as well.   We had a mutual love of the Steelers and he loved to rub my nose in his meeting Franco Harris at Super Bowl 43.  He stuck a Steelers flag in my dad's yard and someone actually took a picture of it and sent it to me.  My dad is an avid Browns fan and Mark said it made my dad so mad.  I'll always be sad I didn't get to finally have someone to back me up during those Steelers/Browns games. We had a fast friendship developing between us and we were really looking forward to finally meeting in person.  I envy those of you who knew him for years and were lucky enough to call him your son, brother, uncle and friend.  He loved his family and spoke about his nieces a lot.  He was so proud of them!  I got to meet Sarah last month and she is a wonderful young woman with a sweet little boy who loved Mark so much.  The pain I saw Mark's family endure those first few days is something I will never forget.  There is nothing you can say to make the pain go away.  I cried with them as I also felt the emptiness in my heart at the loss of such a wonderful man.  I know he's up there with his dad and his best friend, Bucky planning the Steelers 7th Super Bowl victory.  

I'm posting a picture of me and Jerome Bettis just to rub your nose in it....I know you were happy for me but you were still just a little bit jealous that I got to meet so many of our heros.  Rest in Peace, Mark, you will be forever on my mind.

I do remember the ice cream Mark would share with Buckeye. He would let Bucky lick right off of his cone and then finish eating it himself. It didn't even phase Mark, Bucky was his baby. 

Mark and I would be sitting on the sofa and coverup with a blanket and wait for Buckeye to join us. Sure enough Bucky's head would appear under the blanket to see what we were doing.  There were many times Buckeye would have to be right between Mark and I.

Mark and I would play hide and go seek from Buckeye in the park. Mark would throw a ball for Bucky to go get and then race to hide behind a tree. Mark couldn't let Buckeye go too long. He would always pop out at him.

I remember the very night I first met Mark.  I was meeting some friends at Damon's to watch the football game.  Mark the player that he was.... came right over and sat next to me. I wasn't interested or maybe I was playing hard to get. Who knows?  Sat there for hours talking to him. He walked me out ot my car and I left. The next day at work he called me and wanted to know why I didn't give him a kiss.  Mark saw a challenge and he was determined to win. LOL!  I finally went out with him but I met him there. We were together on and off over the last 15 years.  Boy that man couldn't make me mad. I guess that was the way it went....he would tick me off and then it was a challenge to win my heart back to his. And he ALWAYS had it. I love you Mark and always have. You will always have a place in my heart.

Mark, Mark, Mark, what can I say now that you have gone away.  So much on my mind so little comes out.  You have been my friend for 15 years, who never forgot to call on my birthday (9-22) until this last year.  I thank you for helping me start my business (1995). I thank you for the laughter & the tears. The memories I have will stay with me for the rest of my years. The songs you would sing when you called me up, The advise you would share to keep me strong. Those beautiful eyes that would say so much.

The ice cream that you would share with Buckeye was just way to much. You are special to me no matter what.  We have taught each other a lot. I will cherish the memories since that is now all I got.

With love and respect I will miss you alot.  May there now be peace for you my friend.