Dr. Mark Gerard Toncini
Dr. Mark Gerard Toncini, 61, of Vandergrift, Pa., the son of Geraldine (Martier) Toncini of Vandergrift and the late John Toncini, passed away Friday at UPMC St. Margaret, surrounded by his loving family.
Born Sept. 20, 1955, in Latrobe, he was a graduate of Kiski Area High School and drum major of their nationally acclaimed “Big K” marching band. He completed his bachelor's degree in biology at Gannon University after a year at Washington & Jefferson College, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He then continued on to Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry, earning his doctorate of dental surgery in 1980. Eventually, he returned to Seton Hill University to earn his teaching degree in biology, chemistry and physics.
Mark was a dentist in Sarver and Vandergrift for roughly 20 years. He later taught high school science and “retired” as a part-time dentist in Pittsburgh. He served many years as a school board member at Freeport School District and was active in the Sons of Italy, both locally and statewide.
He will be remembered for his loud laugh, his love of food and wine, his readiness with a joke, and his unveiled pride in his children and grandchildren. His best days were spent on the beach with the children in his life, with friends sampling far too much Chianti and charcuterie, and anywhere he could pretend he too was a child again.
Dr. Toncini is survived by his mother; his daughter, Devon (Christopher) Vorse of Freeport; his sons, Adam (Melissa) Toncini of Leechburg and Blaec (Zari) Toncini of Lancaster; six adored grandchildren, Avery, Isaac, Elijah and Oscar Vorse, Elisa Toncini and Harper Toncini; two sisters, Rose Marie Douglas and Nancy Gibson; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father; his aunt, Lenora Martier; his paternal grandparents, Teresio and Caterina Toncini; and his maternal grandparents, Guirino and Rose (Troiano) Martier.
TONCINI — Visitation for Dr. Mark Gerard Toncini, who died Friday, Dec. 9, 2016, will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Curran Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 300 Market St., Leechburg, Pa.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon Thursday at St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church, 303 Franklin Ave., Vandergrift, Pa., with the Rev. James Loew, O.S.B., as the celebrant. Private burial will be at the Toncini section of St. Catherine Cemetery in Gilpin Township.Everyone is asked to please meet at the church.In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made in Mark's memory to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, www.hipdysplasia.org.To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.curranfuneralhome.com.
