Obituary of Mark Richard Fruzzetti

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Mark Richard Fruzzetti, age 56, of Vero Beach, FL., formerly Winchester, KY. Mark passed away gracefully on December 15, 2023, surrounded by family at University of Kentucky Hospice after fighting a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Born on May 16, 1967, in Akron, Ohio, Mark is the beloved Son of Richard E. and Janet C. (Robinson) Fruzzetti of Kingsport, TN; beloved Brother and Brother-in-law of Ann Marie and Taylor H. Duncan, Jr., of Olive Hill, KY; Amazing Uncle "Muncle" of Julia D. Pigman, of Lexington, KY; & Taylor H. Duncan, III, of Olive Hill, KY; beloved Nephew of Rev. William Robinson, OFM Conv., of Pittsboro, NC; beloved "Paps" of Stevanie and Michael McDonald of Richmond, KY; "Pappy" of Kyleigh Smith & "Grand Pappy" to Ripleigh Mae of Fort Campbell, KY; and Best friend of Ken Micol, of Payson, AZ.

Mark was a 1985 graduate of Wadsworth High School, Wadsworth, OH. Early in Mark’s career journey, he worked in the restaurant industry where he mastered culinary techniques that we all looked forward to being awarded. He opened new kitchens in various states for Cooker Bar and Grille, eventually landing in Leesburg, KY in 1992 and later settling in Winchester, KY in 1993.

Mark expanded his resume in plastics manufacturing and eventually settled into IT and Security. In 2011, he embraced the opportunity to further his education, earning Associate Degrees in Science and Applied Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Bluegrass Community and Technical College in 2013. Notably, Mark graduated as BCTC Outstanding Program Graduate. He earned his degrees while tutoring students in anatomy and working full-time. His career journey brought him most recently to Bates Security, working his way from Field Technician to Operations Manager.

Although Mark sometimes lived many miles away from family and friends, he always made time to call for a chat, often for hours, and visited especially on holidays and special occasions. He was an excellent cook and enjoyed preparing meals for family, friends, and neighbors. Mark was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need - gladly putting aside his plans to do so. He had a dry sense of humor, was quick-witted, and loved to make his friends laugh. He was creative, artistic, and musically talented.

Mark’s solace came in the form of music. He found that music had a way of uniting and bringing people together and would share his passion with us during his exploration of new artists, styles, and sounds. While he enjoyed the search, he loved the connection music forged by sharing his eclectic playlist.

In his spare time, he enjoyed collecting antiques, boating, relaxing at the beach, and caring for a variety of pets who decided to call his home their home, too. He loved attending live concerts, local festivals and shows, visiting antique shops and flea markets, and playing bass guitar. He also liked watching and attending events for the Detroit Redwings, Boston Red Sox, UK Basketball, and NASCAR.

While he resided in the Winchester, KY river community Mark enjoyed being an active member of River Keepers and the Boonesboro Boat Club where he served as commodore for several years.

Mark was baptized and confirmed in the Roman Catholic faith. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date.

Mark is deeply missed by all of his many friends, family, and co-workers and his memory will live on in our hearts. His legacy is the love and kindness he showed and the friendship he gave to us all.

If you would like to honor Mark's memory, please donate to one of the following charities that were important to him: St. Jude Children's Hospital; The American Cancer Society; Special Olympics; or a local animal shelter.