Mark R Knuckles

Mark Knuckles, age 58, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mark was born to Bev Owens Knuckles and Judith Arlene Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, but spent his childhood in the Finger Lakes playing baseball: a sport that was instilled in him by his grandfather Walter Johnson, who played for Cornell University. Mark earned his Bachelor's Degree at Niagara University, where he played baseball and tennis and was active on campus as the Student Government President. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac University School of Law in Connecticut, where he met his wife, Dolores. After brief employment at several firms, Mark grew his own law firm, now known as Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, from the ground up, where his determination and grit earned him great success. Running a firm came naturally to Mark, where he led by example with grace and intelligence.

However, his most celebrated achievement was supporting his two sons on the baseball field. From tee ball to high school ball to college ball, Mark was actively involved in coaching, planning, training, and spectating Casey and Brady. Mark and his wife, Dolores, loved watching their sons play. In fact, Mark's affinity for sports did not stop on his sons' baseball fields. He was a devoted Mets fan, attending the Mets/Yankees World Series in 2000. He also cheered on the Dolphins, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Kentucky Wildcats. Another love of Mark's was the golf course where he was a member at Manhattan Woods Golf Club.

To say that Mark was bigger than life is an understatement. He ran with the bulls in Spain, traversed the Burgundy Wine Trail in France, and played golf in Ireland. He was the life of the party and could spin a tale like no other. But perhaps his most outstanding trait was his generosity. Mark would give anyone the shirt off his back. He was an avid supporter of St. Joe's in Montvale where his sons attended high school. Hopefully, Mark is listening to the Foo Fighters hit "Everlong" right now while playing the nineteenth hole, where the sun never sets, and the fairways are always green.

Mark is preceded by his father, Bev Owens Knuckes, and survived by his wif,e Dolores, his children, Casey and Brady, his mothe,r Judith Arlene Johnson, his sister Karisma Judith Hendley, his brother Kevin Owens, his brother Jacob Alexander and his wife Beth, his brother Adam Black and his wife Kristen, and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may visit with the family at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ, on Monday, February 9, 2026, from 3:00-8:00 pm. A funeral service will be celebrated at Vander Plaat Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 10, at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery and Mausoleum, 770 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah.

Flowers are welcome, or memorial gifts may be directed to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. mskcc.org Direct donations by check, payable to "Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center," to P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087.