Mark Andrew Chernega of Apopka, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 22 at the age of 71 with his family by his side.
Mark was born in Pittsburgh PA on March 14, 1950 to father Peter Chernega and mother Maudie Chernega. Mark graduated from Bishop Moore High School where he was later inducted into their Hall Of Fame for four sports; football, baseball, basketball and track. Mark also attended Orlando Junior College/Valencia Community College before going to work in the construction industry. Starting from humble beginnings on a forklift he eventually worked his way up to being the President of Florida Rock’s Central Florida Division.
Mark married the love of his life, Barbara, in 1973 and had two daughters, Sunni and Jackie whom he also loved dearly. Later in life, he was blessed with his beautiful granddaughter, Ireland. Mark was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Apopka.
Perhaps one of the most competitive people you could ever meet, Mark split his time between playing for and managing a softball team with six national titles and restoring his award winning 1965 GTO. A very proud moment for Mark, the car was eventually featured in Muscle Car Review magazine.
Mark also instilled the love of competing in his daughters and was very involved in their equestrian competitions. Always a leader, Mark served as the President of the Florida Ponies Of America Association for several years and could frequently be found behind the microphone in the announcer’s stand during their competitions. His favorite hobby of all was driving, washing and talking about his motorhome and horse trailer which he put thousands of miles on pulling his daughters’ horses all over the country to compete.
Mark had a true love for the Ready Mix industry and loved the people that he worked with. He liked to say “there are those that do and those that wait for others to do”. Mark was a doer. Mark served as the Associate Affiliate Vice President for the Associated General Contractors, on the Board of Directors for the Associated Builders and Contractors, on the Board of the Orange County Boys Ranch, on the board of the American Concrete Industry and HomeBuilders Association and was appointed by then County Commissioner, Mel Martinez to the Orange County Code Enforcement Board.
Mark was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Chernega, daughters Sunni Duke and Jackie Chernega, granddaughter Ireland Grantham, brother Jeff Chernega, sisters Holly Howard and Elise Eubanks and numerous nieces and nephews.
Known as an instigator, aggravator and maybe even a rascal, Mark and his antics will be fiercely missed by his family. There will never be another like him.
To honor him, a graveside service will take place at Highland Memory Gardens in Apopka, FL at 12:30pm on Thursday, January 27th, 2022. (3329 E Semoran Blvd, Apopka, FL 32703)