Obituary of Mark Steven Burr

Mark Steven Burr, 65, passed away Friday, August 4, 2023, at Huntington Hospital after a long fight with pancreatic cancer.  He was surrounded by his loving family.

Mark is survived by his wife, Patti, two sons Markie (Lindsey) and Steven, brother Jim and wife Cheryl, mother Dorothy, and granddaughter Coraline.

Mark is also survived by Patti's siblings who were also considered his sisters and brothers, including Kevin and Nancy Coleman and their children Caity (Matt and their son Kevin) and Frankie, and Michael and Lisa Pellegrino and their children Alyssa and Mikey.

Mark was born September 9, 1957 in Montgomery, N.J., the son of Richard and Dorothy (Wence) Burr. After graduating from Cinnaminson High School in New Jersey, he moved to Texas to study music at the University of North Texas. In 1981, Mark began his teaching career in Houston, where he soon met the love of his life Patti Pellegrino. They married in 1984 in South Huntington, on Long Island, where they would eventually settle with their one-year-old son Markie. In 1991, they welcomed their second son, Steven.  These two boys were the highlight of his and Patti's lives.

Beginning in 1988, Mark began what would be a 31-year career teaching music at Commack Middle School -- many of those years as a lead music teacher. He also spent many years as a soccer coach and a Scout Master in the Boy Scouts. Throughout his time both in and outside of school, he touched the lives of countless children and would be both a mentor and an inspiration for many aspiring musicians and teachers to come. Long after his retirement in 2019, he continued to receive messages from former students who were either studying to become or already employed as music teachers themselves. Mark and his peers always had the utmost respect for one other, even through the silly pranks they would often pull on each other. 

With his fun sense of humor and never-ending positive attitude, he was beloved by all. He loved to laugh, he loved to golf, he loved to learn new instruments. He loved watching the New York Rangers and the New York Mets (he especially loved watching them win). He even enjoyed chuckling at the Three Stooges alongside his two boys.

Above all, he loved his family and his friends. He was a friend to all. He will be so terribly missed.

In memory of Mark,  please consider donating to the Mark Burr Commack Scholarship Fund at the GOFUNDME account below:

https://gofund.me/d8ac2ef6