Mark Steven DeAugustino

Mark Steven DeAugustino, a resident of Dade City, Florida, passed away on Thursday, November 24, 2022, following complications due to a heart attack.

The DeAugustino family has a long history of wrestling success originating in Western Pennsylvania. Mark is the youngest son of Leonard John DeAugustino and Beverly Jean (Marshall) DeAugustino, brother to Michael and Scott, and wrestling was a part of family life. His father was the Head Wrestling Coach at North Allegheny High School and began teaching and coaching his sons the sport of wrestling from an early age. At the age of 5, Mark won his first Junior Olympics. The DeAugustino family holds five individual Pennsylvania State Championships. After graduating from North Allegheny High School, Mark wrestled for Gray Simons at the University of Tennessee, where he was the team captain and a two-time D1 NCAA Qualifier. He was voted the Outstanding Wrestler for the Volunteers in 1982, then was a graduate assistant for two years. Upon completing his degree, he assisted Dan Dugger with coaching at Karns High School in 1984 and helped start a program at Austin East High School in 1987 with Jim Lauderdale. In 1988, he had the special opportunity to go back to North Allegheny High School and coach alongside his father where they were able to win a National Championship. Mark moved to Florida in 1989, settling in Ft. Myers in 1990. Having a passion for the sport of wrestling, he helped out at Cypress Creek High School. During this time, he met his wife Suzanne and they had three wonderful children together, Nicholas (Niko), Holly, and John. All three of Mark's children were involved in wrestling. Niko and John wrestled for their dad and Holly was a team manager throughout their high school years. Mark started coaching in Pasco County in 1994 at Land O' Lakes with Ed Goodpaster. From 1998 - 2017 he was the head coach at Pasco High School, where he coached 86 state qualifiers and 43 state place winners, along with 12 State Finalists and 4 State Champions. Mark was the Head Wrestling Coach at Zephyrhills Christian Academy and produced 8 state qualifiers and 3 state placers with 2 State Champions, 5th & 6th State Champions respectively, John DeAugustino being the 5th. Mark also ran the Dade City Wrestling Club that encouraged younger kids to get involved in wrestling with the hope it would help them continue on through high school and further with hardwork and dedication. Mark was inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Florida Chapter) with a Lifetime Service to Wrestling in 2019. As well as coaching, Mark was a teacher at Pasco High School for 28 years and was not only a mentor to his wrestlers but to the many students that passed through his door.

Mark had a kind soul and was able to make people feel welcome with just a few words. He wasn’t afraid to give a hug or let people know how much he cared with his words and actions. His presence will be greatly missed by many.

His wife, Suzanne, whom he married in May of 1994, survives at home along with his three children Nicholas (Niko), Holly and John. As well as, Dylan Kiefreider (Holly’s Fiancé) and Tatjana Krekic, mother to his first grandchild with John. Also surviving is his granddaughter, Ryleigh May DeAugustino. Michael DeAugustino, his brother, survives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his parents, Leonard and Beverly DeAugustino, Mark was preceded in death by his brother Scott DeAugustino.

A Celebration of his life will be held 1:30pm Sunday, December 4, 2022 at the 301 Chapel of Hodges Family Funeral Home in Dade City. The family will receive friends starting at 12 noon on Sunday up until service time.

In lieu of flowers, donating to your local wrestling club or high school team, even getting a pair of wrestling shoes or a headgear and giving it to a school or club would be one of the best ways to remember Mark.