R. Mark Spellman, 60, Father of Two, Driver, Press Room Operator

An obituary from the Holmes-Watkins Funeral Homes:

R. Mark Spellman, 60, of Manchester, husband of Amy (Girardin) Spellman passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2015 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mark was born on Jan. 10, 1955 in Lake Hurst, NJ son of Raymond M. and Joan (Stevens) Spellman of Wethersfield.

He was raised in Wethersfield, and was a 1972 graduate of Wethersfield High School. He served as a Company Engineer for the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department Company One from 1974-1979.

Mark became a Manchester resident in 1980 where he spent the next 15 years driving for RD Clark & Sons. Mark spent his later years employed as a press room operator with the Journal Inquirer newspaper in Manchester for over 12 years until leaving in 2011.

Mark was an avid New York Yankees and New York Giants fan and had a tremendous passion for art, music, and gardening. He was a wonderful storyteller and had great comedic charm.

In addition to his wife and parents Mark is survived by his two beloved sons; Michael J. Spellman and James T. Spellman both of Manchester, his brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Darlene Spellman of Sugarland, TX, his sister, Debi Kelly of Tanzania, a brother-in-law, Steven Girardin, several cherished nieces and nephews who were dear to his heart and his special friends, Laurie Meyer, Dick & Cindy Birmingham, David Kelly, Chris C. and Debbie Troche. Calling hours will be on Wednesday Jan. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main St. Manchester.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Jan. 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Bridget Church, 80 Main St. Manchester. Everyone is asked to go directly to church. Burial will follow in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield.

Mark and his family would like to thank the staffs of UConn Health Center and Manchester Memorial Hospital. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I 91 Tech Center, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3405. To leave an online condolence please visit the funeral home website.