Obituary
Mark R. Gingras, 74, of Wallingford, passed away at his home on Thursday, March 7, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Christine (Geremia) Gingras for 46 years. Mark was born in Meriden, September 3, 1949, a son of the late Robert E. and Joyce (Linenberger) Gingras. He was a graduate of Holy Trinity School, and a member of Xavier High School’s first graduating class. He attended Manchester Community College, but was drafted before receiving a diploma. He studied wine at the Shannon College of Hotel Management in Ireland, laying the groundwork to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Since 1980, Mark, a self-taught businessman, has owned and operated G&G Beverage Distributors alongside his devoted wife and daughters. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Liberty Bank since 2001. Mark humbly served his community as past President of Wallingford’s Rotary Club where he was awarded Rotarian of the Year and the Paul Harris Fellow- the highest honor a Rotarian can receive. Mark also served as Vice-Chairman of the town’s Economic Development Commission, past Chairman of Wallingford’s YMCA and was a proud supporter of United Way's foundation. Mark's greatest joy was traveling with his wife, his best friend. From the top of Machu Picchu to Buddhist temples in Tibet to icebergs in Antarctica, Mark believed life's greatest lessons were learned on an adventure. He loved to come home and boast about his pictures to his grandchildren, who he adored the most. Mark was compassionate, fiercely loyal and had a laugh that could fill a room.
In addition to his wife Christine, he is survived by his two daughters, Margaux Faison and her husband Clarence of Stamford, and Brynn Melia and her husband Adrian of Hoboken, NJ; his adored grandchildren, Skylar and Caelyn Faison, and Gavin Mark and Finn Melia; his siblings, Susan Vitali (Robert) of Tega Cay, SC., Paul Gingras (Laura) of Wallingford and Gregory Gingras of Wolcott, his mother-in-law Josephine Geremia; and many nieces and nephews.
Mark’s family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., Wallingford, on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024, from 3pm to 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 14th at 10:00am, at Most Holy Trinity Church, 84 N. Colony St., Wallingford. Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to Holy Trinity School, 11 N. Whittlesey Ave., Wallingford, CT, The Liberty Bank Foundation, 245 Long Hill Rd., Middletown, CT, and the Wallingford Public Library, 200 North Main St., Wallingford, CT.
www.wallingfordfh.com