Mark DeSimone passed away on Thursday, December 12th, 2024 after a valiant four-year battle with cancer. Born on February 17,1954 to the late John and Diana (Leitner) DeSimone, Mark will be remembered for his sharp intellect, witty sense of humor, and true spirit of adventure; but above all else, he will be memorialized for his unwavering commitment to and pride for his family.
Mark grew up in Newton, Massachusetts as the 2nd oldest of seven siblings in a large, tight-knit family. As a teenager, Mark worked for Newton Corner Press and Somerset Plumbing Supply in Somerville. Mark later went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, he set off to work in the oil & gas industry where his assignments took him to various corners of the world, including France, Tunisia, Singapore, India, and Borneo. After earning his Master’s Degree in Building Science, again at MIT, Mark’s endeavors took him to Antarctica, where he managed the facilities at the McMurdo Station, and then to Bosnia, where he supervised the construction of military support infrastructure.
Mark had the opportunity to live, work, and make friends in many beautiful places around the world, including Colorado, Thailand, Philippines, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. For the past 20 years, he made his home in Kazakhstan where he continued to work in the oil and gas industry and more recently was responsible for developing infrastructure for Quality Schools International (QSI) throughout Central Asia.
Living as a local in Kazakhstan, Mark had a profound appreciation of its rich and wonderful heritage and embraced its traditions of nomadic culture and hospitality. In 2003, Mark met his wife, Nelli, and they later had two children, Angelo (15) and Gianluigi (13). Mark was an avid outdoors enthusiast, pursuing photography and scuba diving in his younger years and more recently exploring the spectacular mountains of Kazakhstan with Nelli and the boys. Mark’s proudest achievement was being a father, and he constantly marveled at Angelo and Gianluigi’s impressive academic, musical, and athletic accomplishments. He particularly enjoyed sharing his passions for cooking and motorcycles with his sons.
Mark leaves his wife, Nelli Baltabayeva; sons Angelo and Gianluigi; brothers Frank and his wife Carolina, John and his wife Samia; sisters Viviana, Maia, and Irene Renaud; nephews and nieces Elisa, Nina, Vincent, Kristina, Alex, Thomas, Michaela, Camila, Sofia and Lucas, as well as a large and loving extended family straddling several continents.
Visiting hours on Sunday, December 15 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM in the Magni Funeral Home, 365 Watertown Street (Rte. 16), Newton. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, December 19 at 11:00 AM at the Story Chapel at Mount Auburn Cemetery 580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138. Family and friends are invited to share fond memories and stories.
Mark's greatest comfort would be knowing that his loved ones are supported during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations to assist his family are gratefully appreciated as a tribute to his life and legacy. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-mark-desimone-and-his-family