Mark Underwood, 61, of Mystic died January 23, 2023 at Yale New Haven Hospital after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was born June 5, 1961 in Lakehurst, NJ to James and Margaret (Heneger) Underwood. Mark leaves behind his beloved wife of 31 years, Sherri Pratt, and his son Tyler Underwood and his fiance Katie Kimball. He is also survived by his siter, Margaret (Bill) Allyn, brother Stephen (Nancy) and James Underwood, brother-in-law Bob (Kathy) Pratt, cousin-in-law Ed (Virjen) Pettini, as well as several nieces and nephews. Mark was predeceased by his parents, sisters Karen, Judy and Mimi and father-in-law Robert Pratt.
He grew up in Groton, graduating from Fitch Senior High in 1979 and from UCONN in 1983. Mark was employed at Electric Boat as a buyer in the Industrial Sales Department for over 20 years. What really defined his life, though, was not his work, but the joy he found outside of work.
If you knew Mark, you would know he loved to be out on the water fishing. Whether it was trips to the sandbar with his wife and son, out drifting in Long Island Sound for fluke and seabass or finding local freshwater ponds, fishing was Mark's happy place. He shared this passion with family, friends, and even got his bucket list fishing experience down in the Florida Keys where he and Tyler both caught their first tarpon.
Mark wore many hats: Husband, father, uncle, coach, or perhaps even a stranger who talked your ear off about anything. It was obvious that husband and father were his favorite hats to wear. He loved Sherri and Tyler with all of his heart and always did whatever we needed him to do. Of course he always would add a few sarcastic comments or dad jokes along the way to ease any difficult task or situation. That's what made him the best father and husband we could have asked for. He was a legend and will be missed greatly but never forgotten.
Mark coached Tyler and his teammates from 2003 to 2011 in Little League and Babe Ruth. He was president of the Mystic Babe Ruth League in 2009 where he served for 3 years and an active member of the Fitch Athletic Booster Club. He selflessly spent hours and hours maintaining Neff Field even after Tyler aged out of the league. Mark was always willing to help others grow and have fun.
Mark's family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, February 4, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic. A Funeral Service will immediately follow at 1:00pm at the funeral home. Burial will be private for the family at a later date.