TENANTS HARBOR — Mark James Shapiro, 65, passed peacefully with his wife and son by his side, Thursday, August 27, 2025, at Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1959, he was the son of Thomas and Margaret Millen Shapiro. Growing up in Cadmen, New Jersey, Mark graduated from high school there.

Since childhood Mark was an enthusiastic person in many activities. In the late 1970s he reached the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boys Scouts and received a call from President Carter.

As a young man, Mark went to work at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Pennsylvania, planning to begin a career in the medical field. He soon found himself working in the technology department there, working on medical equipment, especially in the cardiology department.

Always interested in photography and cameras, Mark also worked for a camera shop.

He was later recruited by IBM and Apple Computer and helped develop the first PC’s with both of those companies.

In the 1980s he started working at IBM where he helped with the development of mainframes and the IBM PC. Later he was recruited by Apple Computer where he eventually became a senior systems engineer. Also, he was an assistant producer at PopTech in Camden, Maine for a number of years.

On September 11, 2001, Mark made the trip to Maine to purchase his home here, instead of attending a conference at the World Trade Center in New York. Here he has become entrenched in the community, volunteering his time at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, fostering his love of antique cars. He was active in the photography world, even cultivating a home gallery at his barn in Tenants Harbor. There he held exhibitions and shows, and even traveled to Siberia, Russia to meet family of his wife where he hosted shows exhibiting life in Maine. From 2005 to 2008, Mark was an active member of an art group, the ‘Monday Night Group’.

On February 23, 2008, Mark married Elena Shitina in Tenants Harbor.

Mark had a love of the ocean, and being on the water. For many years he worked as a co-captain of the Laura B out of Port Clyde. He also volunteered his time with Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum.

In May 2007 Mark began employment at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath as a marketing and communications manager. Shortly after beginning his job there, Mark was severely injured by a rogue trailer while walking in the Bath Fourth of July parade with the Museum.

Mark had a larger-than-life personality; his cheerful nature could take over any room. Although he faced many struggles throughout his life, he never complained, and was always concerned about others, doing whatever he could to make their lives better. He made it a priority to make sure the nurses and those helping him knew how much he appreciated their hard work and dedication.

Mark's wife remembers, one of the last conversations they had, even in the midst of his struggles, he told her, ‘I am happy to be on this planet.’

He will be sadly missed by all who loved him.

Predeceased by his parents; his sister Patricia Shapiro; an aunt and an uncle; Mark is survived by his wife, Elena Shitina, and his son Alexandr ‘Sasha’ Shapiro, both of Tenants Harbor; his cousins, Susan Osphim, the Millen Family, Helen, Naiomi, Joseph and Frank; as well as their family’s and a large extended family.

Family and friends are invited to visit Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 1 to 2 p.m., with a Memorial Mass to be held immediately following at 2 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. He will be laid to rest privately at Seaside Cemetery, Tenants Harbor. 

To share a memory or condolence with the Shapiro family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.