In appreciation: Mark Niedhammer

It’s easy to define Mark by his sense of humor. After all, conversation almost always started with a joke and from there meandered through non sequiturs and demonstrations of gadgets, made more amusing by how out of place they seemed to be in everyday life — a part of a single piano action, a magnet from a hard drive, a pear he had grown inside of a glass jar.

While Mark’s humor sparked instant friendships, it was his kind, encouraging comments and willingness to offer help that ensured the friendship endured.

Mark came into my life as a mentor when I was about 10 years old. We spent many weekends doing the kinds of things I found fun in the moment. Looking back, those moments become much more meaningful.

Fishing at the Grove always started with a trip to pick up a can of sweet corn — for the sunfish, of course. Occasionally, curiosity about whether other types of “bait” would work were indulged. Based on our tests, broccoli, green beans, and various other vegetables are unsuitable.

A sledding trip started with a stop at Bubbles and Bows (a retail clothing shop he owned) for a new hat. A drive around the Northwest Corner was an excuse to introduce me to Turkish delight, which he had procured specifically for the drive.

Once, he arrived driving a limo and proceeded to act as chauffeur for a trip through the McDonald’s drive-thru for french fries. He ordered a large to my small to compare the size of the individual fries — they were, in fact, the same size.

Later, at 18 and after having moved out of the area and back, I visited The Lakeville Journal to renew a classified ad for a computer business I was starting.  Mark said, “Hey! They’re hiring a graphic designer and it would be great if you worked here!” Thus began nearly 20 years with Mark as a colleague, during which I got to know and appreciate him in a different way.

Mark’s overarching approach to customer service was that of friendship. Every person who sat at his desk to place a classified line ad, make an inquiry, or just to chat was treated as if they were the most important person to him — because they were. An approach worthy of emulation.

When I proposed to my wife, there was no question in my mind that Mark would be the person I’d ask to be my best man. He accepted, with a tear in his eye (yes, really) and threw his full support behind us.

Once we had kids, he and his longtime companion, Anne, always greeted them with genuine excitement and talked with them as people first and children second. Of course, this was not at all unfamiliar to me.

Relationships evolve and change over time and ours was no exception. But, I will always remember Mark as a mentor and friend.

James H. Clark

Salisbury