Mark William Wunderlin

On a rain soaked Monday evening, March 28, 2011, after a brief but surprisingly vicious illness, Mark William Wunderlin passed through the door we will all reach someday. He left in his wide wake family and friends whose world is richer for having known him and poorer for having to occupy a place no longer containing his charming smile, infectious laugh and caring friendship. His talent, musicality, eye for design, genuine compassion, interest in the world around him and his concern and involvement in his children's and all his "adopted" kids lives will be sorely missed by those who are still on this side of that door. Left on this world are his parents William and Joan Wunderlin, and siblings Brian, Mike and Beth. Also missing him with heavy hearts but many "wunderful" memories are his wife of 28 years, Cheryl and his two children, Jessica and Chris. Joan and Bill welcomed Mark as their first born on July 10th, 1959 in Monticello, NY and quickly filled their home with the rest of the Wunderlin clan. In 1969, they traded the wild winters of upstate New York for the sweltering summers of Largo, FL. As Mark reached high school and became a part of the band, the Wunderlin family became a dominant force in the Largo High School Band of Gold. While a member of this internationally recognized program, he had the opportunity to travel to England to participate in the World Band Cup competition. He and the rest of the Wunderlins went on to join in the beginnings of the very successful Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. This involvement in musical activities was to be a major part of Mark's life. After high school, Mark attended St. Petersburg Community College and received his Associate of Arts Degree in 1979. He flirted with, dated and proposed to a cute rifle "player" from the Band of Gold and Suncoast Sound. He and Cheryl Gatzka married in 1982. He decided to take his other God-given gift of artistic prowess to the University of Florida College of Architecture, where he earned a Bachelor of Design and Graduated with Honors in 1985. Then Harvard came calling, and he and Cheryl went to Boston where Mark received his Masters in Architecture in 1988. It only took three New England winters for Mark and Cheryl to decide that Florida was a better place to work, raise kids and not freeze to death. Jessica was born in 1990 and Chris in 1991. Mark worked for several of the top architectural firms in the area, using his talents to benefit his clients and employers in many positive ways, garnering numerous distinctions for himself and the companies he worked for. In 2000, he received the University of Florida Young Architect Design Award. His award-winning projects and buildings span from Central Florida to Jacksonville, Denver, El Paso, and Durham, NC. Mark continued his passion for music and anchored the baritone section of the Chancel Choir at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church for nearly ten years. He sang many services and regularly volunteered for the early mass on Sundays as well as the midnight mass on Christmas Eve. He kept up his tuba chops by participating in several community groups during the year and always enjoyed playing Christmas Carols with 150 other tuba players every Yule season at the Merry Tuba Christmas in Winter Park. His children followed in his footsteps by joining band in middle school and continued on to be a part of a nationally-renowned program at Winter Park High School, just like dad and mom at Largo. Following his parents' example, Mark was always there as an active member of the band parents' association and went above and beyond the call by chaperoning all the trips and working untold hours on the many projects it takes to support the special group of kids that make up a band. He and Cheryl often opened their home to the students and considered all the kids who were friends of Jessica and Chris to be part of the "very much extended" family. Though Mark has passed on,,, he will always be a part of the lives he touched; the people who were blessed to know him are better for it. His spirit will live on in the many buildings large and small that received his spark of creativity and while time may erase those physical reminders of his impact on the world,, Mark's love for his family, friends, and life will exist forever. The family will be receiving friends on Friday evening from 6 until 8 at the DeGusipe Funeral Home. 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 2, at 11:00 AM at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Winter Park.

Mark William Wunderlin

July 10, 1959 - March 28, 2011