Turners Falls- Thomas “Mike” Markol, 53, of 4th Street, died Sunday, May 20, 2017, at home after a brief battle with cancer surrounded by his family and close friends. Until his passing and through his pain, Mike continued to demonstrate his keen sense of humor in which he was known for to all who knew him.
Mike was born in Greenfield on August 30, 1964, the son of Ann Vanasse. He graduated from Greenfield High School in 1983 and worked for Coca-Cola for many years, and then for the Greenfield Recorder and Bement School. Mike’s passion, however, was a combination of coaching children, umpiring and sports. This love motivated him to be active in a variety of sporting organizations in the area including the Newt Guilbault Little League, Babe Ruth and the Turners Falls Football Parents Association among others. Mike saw this opportunity to not only spend time teaching his son, Brody, his love of the game, but also as an opportunity to mentor countless children in the area. He enjoyed being an umpire for high school, co-rec and youth softball while also officiating men’s touch football. Mike was an avid supporter of the Turners Falls Booster Club. The spectators who watched Turners Falls sports often saw Mike manning the sidelines at football and baseball games and cheering on the kids in the stands with his booming voice. Throughout the years, he interacted, supported, and touched the lives of many students and families alike.
Among his survivors, Mike leaves his son, Brody Markol; his ex-wife, Kelly (Tompkins) Markol, both of Greenfield; his sister, Michelle Langevin of Golden Valley, AZ; his niece Hannah Johnson of Turners Falls, his aunt and godmother, Barbara Parks of North Carolina and the Vanasse and Parks families. He also leaves members of his extended family including Scott Tompkins and his wife Sandy of Chicopee, Kyle Tompkins and his partner Frank Roebuck of Brookline, and Jodi Ozdarski and her husband Mark of Turners Falls, as well as his nieces and nephew Haley, Morgan, Kayla and Jake.
Brody and Kelly would like to extend a sincere thank you to Marisa Dalmaso-Rode for her exceptional care giving and love for our family and Lisa-Kay Folk and Lori Tharpe-Folk for their love and support.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, May 30, at 10 AM at the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, May 29, from 4-7 PM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Turners Falls Athletic Association, P.O. Box 11, Turners Falls, MA 01376 or Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Conway St # 2, Greenfield, MA 01301
For sympathy messages, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
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