Mark William Vincent of Eastham died peacefully at Cape Cod Hospital on May 27, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was 67. He had served Wellfleet as director of its dept. of public works for the last 23 years.
Vincent was lauded as “a consummate professional” and “a total team player” in a statement posted on the town website by select board chair Michael DeVasto and Interim Town Administrator Charlie Sumner. They also noted his “great sense of humor.”
Mark spent a total of 40 years employed in public works departments in Barnstable County: first in the town of Barnstable, then in Orleans, and finally in Wellfleet. His fellow department heads, including Wellfleet Police Chief Mike Hurley, commented on his role in coordinating the work of police, fire, and DPW depts. as first responders in the face of storms, collapsed parking lots, and other threats to the town’s residents and infrastructure.
“Every time a department head needed some help,” said Fire Chief Rich Pauley, “Mark was there trying to do the best he could to make it work.”
Mark’s sense of humor was evident early on. His brother John remembers him as “the family comedian.”
Born in Hartford to the late John and Louise Vincent, Mark grew up in Simsbury, Conn. He attended the Avon Old Farms School and Simsbury High School. As a boy, he excelled on the Simsbury town swimming team, according to his brother. He also learned to play the drums.
By the 1970s, Mark was a member of several bands, playing regular gigs in Western Mass. and in and around New Haven. It was during this time that he acquired his beloved metallic green GTO racing convertible, which, during the summers, he drove, top town, to performances with Stormin’ Norman and the Troopers. One summer, they played five nights a week at the Knox Trail Inn in Otis.
Mark moved to the Cape in 1975, and, on his birthday in 1979, he married Sandra Leslie. The couple lived in Chatham and Eastham before building their forever home, together with their son, Brian, in 1991.
Over the years, Mark maintained his love of sports and, especially, of music, attending every concert he could by his favorite band, NRBQ. He could find the silver lining in every situation, and his sense of humor never deserted him, even in his last illness. Nurse Terry Goulart of Cape Cod Healthcare wrote, “I only knew Mark for a brief time, but his kind spirit and sense of humor touched my heart.”
In addition to his wife, Sandra, Mark is survived by his son, Brian; daughter-in-law, Rebecca Pinsky; and granddaughter, Sadie Vincent, of Mansfield. He is also survived by his brother John Vincent and wife Nancy of Orleans. He was predeceased by his brother Paul T. Vincent. He will be greatly missed by his dog, Ozzie, and his many loving nieces, nephews, and close friends, who added so much to his life.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund in memory of Mark, to support cancer research and patient care, at P.O. Box 849168, Boston 02284 or at jimmyfund.org/gift. Funeral services will be private; a public memorial will be held at a time to be announced. For online condolences, visit nickersonfunerals.com.
