Remembering Coach Starkey
Posted 2/04/2010 01:31:00 PM.
MACK PICONE STARKEY, 50, died February 3, 2010, after a courageous year-long battle with esophageal cancer.
He is survived by his loving wife, Tina Picone Starkey, step-children Amanda and Dante Sudilovsky, of Twinsburg; sisters, Tammy Starkey of Elyria, Teresa Starkey of Lorain, Tina Bowley of Tampa,FL, and brother Mike Starkey; he is the beloved son-in-law of Nick and Chris Picone, of Solon; brother-in-law to Julie and Rob Albrecht and Donna and Nick Picone, Jr., of Aurora, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth (Macy) Ohmes.
Mack lived his life with passion and purpose and continued to live life to the fullest, until the very end. His determination to follow his dreams led him to many adventures in his life. As a boy growing up in Elyria, he taught himself magic and began performing at comedy clubs in Cleveland. He continued to perform magic as an entertainer on Royal Caribbean and later as Shuffles the clown and the Magic of Mack, in Cleveland. His talent took him to New York, where he founded an improvisational group. Mack was happiest performing on stage and making an audience laugh. Mack served in the army and the National Guard in both Ohio and California. He had the opportunity to travel to Asia and Europe with his job as a computer project manager.
He reconnected with the love of his life, Tina, in San Francisco and they were married on Eternity Beach in Hawaii in 2002. At 45, Mack returned to Kent State where he had been a student 20 years previously, and completed his undergraduate degree. He went directly into the Masters Teaching Program and graduated with Honors the following year. He taught high school math at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Correction Facility and most recently at St. Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland. Even on the most difficult days of teaching, Mack was inspired by the potential he saw in students. He often said that he understood how important it was to have someone believe in them. And he did.
He loved the game of baseball and had the opportunity to coach the freshman team at Hudson High School. Friends and family generously contributed for Mack to attend one day Indians experience at Progressive Field. He was thrilled to live out his dream and meet his baseball idols. He was an avid baseball fan, scoring every game he attended and loved his Indians, no matter the outcome. He collected baseball, Kiss and magic memorabilia and enjoyed Sudoku, reading and Farmville. A huge movie fan, Mack collected his favorites and loved gathering the family for movie nights and popcorn. He was an optimist. Even in the face of a dire prognosis, Mack found a way to keep living.
During this chapter of his journey, Mack was humbled by the kindness and generosity of friends, family and those he had never met. He said that he had seen the best in people and that it had restored his faith in man and God.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Martin de Porres High School, 6111 Lausche Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103, in honor of Mack Starkey.
Friends may call at THE FERFOLIA FUNERAL HOME, 356 W. AURORA RD. (OH RTE. 82), SAGAMORE HILLS, FOR VISITATION FRIDAY, 2 - 4 AND 6 - 8 P.M. Family and friends are invited to gather at Hudson Community Church, 750 Streetsboro St. (Rte. 303), Hudson, where a Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 6, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.
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