Marc Dillon

Neptune Beach - Longtime Neptune Beach resident, Marc Everett Dillon died peacefully on August 5th 2023, surrounded by family and friends after an extended and courageous battle with cancer. Marc, age 60, was a lover of people, known for his engaging personality and warm sense of humor in all situations including his final hours. Marc's kindness and nonjudgmental approach earned him lasting relationships. He valued people as they were, treasuring what experience each person brought.

Marc was dedicated husband of Joanne (Herman) and devoted father of daughter, Camryn (Cami) Legier Dillon. He deeply loved and was loved by friends and family including mother Sondra (Josephs) Dillon, sister Pamela (Dillon) Gilman (Cary), brother David Dillon and nephews Steven Gilman (Elizabeth) and Jared Gilman (Caroline), father and mother-in-law, Fred and Stephanie Herman and brother-in-law, Fritz Herman (Jordi). He was predeceased by father, Ronald Maurice Dillon.

Marc was born December 5, 1962, in Far Rockaway, NY and grew up in nearby Oceanside, NY. In 1978, he and his family moved to Marietta, Georgia, where Marc graduated from George Walton High School. Marc went on to earn a B.S. in geology from Florida State and his masters in geophysical science from Georgia Tech.

Marc enjoyed a long, successful career as a geologist and environmental, health, and safety professional. Marc worked for 21 years as a software product manager at Sphera where his software helped many global companies manage their environmental impact and protect worker health and safety. Previously, Marc worked at Golder Associates as a hydrogeologist, a role which allowed him to work outdoors and travel extensively. He was one of the founding members of the company's Jacksonville office.

From early on, Marc lived an active life, enjoying fishing, scuba diving, traveling, running marathons and triathlons, skiing and swimming. While he had many interests, loving his family was his number-one priority. Marc deeply loved and admired Joanne for the amazing person she is and was forever in awe of her. The two were married on October 3, 1991 underwater in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Their greatest pride and joy is their daughter Cami, who he loved to describe as beautiful, kind, intelligent, adventurous - and a civil engineer. Together, Marc and Joanne shared their love of travel, scuba diving and underwater photography with Cami, and the three made many memorable trips to pristine locations including Indonesia, Fiji, Bali, the Philippines.

Among Marc's many passions, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) was perhaps his greatest. Marc started at age 46, and following 11 years of hard work and dedication, earned his black belt, one of the proudest moments of his life. He especially loved teaching, watching many of his younger students grow up to be confident adults, including daughter Cami, who continues with BJJ today. Marc continued to train and teach right up to his passing

Marc was also a trained scientific diver and served as chief scientist for the Jacksonville Reef Research Team, as well as a volunteer on the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.

During the long 12 years of fighting cancer, Marc never let cancer define him. Instead, it was his fight against cancer that defined him. He brought a unique combination of stoicism, courage, strength, and humor to his battle. He never complained; with every down, he came back up again without missing a beat. When he had set backs, his warm humor helped him and everyone around him feel comfortable. (After one setback, he joked that the best way to deal would be to get one of his jiu-jitsu training partners in a good choke hold.)

Marc will be remembered as the role model all should follow. A loving husband, brother, a caring father, a true friend who, regardless of what life gave him, showed us how to laugh, appreciate what we can do, not what we can't and to fight for the precious gift of life.

For those who desire, Marc requested donations to the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol (BSTP.net). Also, to take time to clean up an area of beach, and leave it clean, dark, and flat.

Alternatively Marc requested donations to Tap Cancer Out, a jiu-jitsu based 501(c)(3) nonprofit raising awareness and funds for cancer fighting organizations by mobilizing and empowering the grappling community to create change. (https://tapcancerout.org/contact-us/).

And finally, many thanks to the wonderful team at Cancer Specialists of North Florida Beaches location for their years of tireless care, support, and love.