Mark M. Scheingold

Obituary of Mark M. Scheingold
CHATHAM, NY –
Mark M. Scheingold (affectionately known as Mickey), 81, of Chatham passed away peacefully at the Hospice Inn, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
Mark was born in Queens, NY, grew up in Fair Lawn, NJ, and later relocated to Chatham, NY to be closer to his family.
Mark earned a degree in Computer Science at Montclair University during the early computer days and continued to evolve along with technology advances throughout his life. His family and friends took full advantage of this expertise and made him the official 'go-to guy' for anything techie.
Those who knew him know that his quest for knowledge was insatiable. If something caught his interest he quickly became an expert on the subject.
He approached his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer with the same fervor and was often accused by his doctors of secretly having a medical background.
Mark was a talented photographer throughout his life. His skills kept pace with the changing technology and he became an expert on equipment, finding the perfect shot, & playing with various editing programs to create art.
His favorite subjects were always his family & pets whose lives he documented through photos. He quite often showed himself as a prankster by manipulating the photos to poke fun at his family and friends.
A history buff, Mark could conjure up in accurate detail every major historical event and continued to accumulate these facts to include current world events. He always made his opinions known and always enjoyed a good debate.
Mark's love and devotion to his family was endless. His support, love, advice, puns, and presence were always a constant. One of his greatest pleasures was to engage in deep and lively discussions with his grand-daughter, Heather, whom he fondly referred to as "the best one".
Mark showed kindness to all living creatures. He was passionate about ethical treatment and often hurt by unnecessary suffering. He would stop to help an injured animal and was known to stop traffic so that an animal could safely cross. He and Nancy went to many organized animal rights marches and even traveled to Washington, DC to support the cause. He showered his and Nancy's pets with affection and countless hours of playtime. Even during his last days, he would often urge his family to go home so that their dog, Luna, would not be lonely.
Mark handled his diagnosis and treatment with tremendous courage & grace that inspired his family. He maintained his wit & sense of humor to the very end of his life, often making his loved ones laugh at the most unexpected moments. He constantly expressed his appreciation to everyone around him and rarely complained about the pain. His mantra and message to his family throughout his last 18 months was "Never take anything for granted".
Mark is survived by the love his of life, Nancy Brinkerhoff; his step-daughter Jeanne (Jeff) Damia; his granddaughter, Heather Damia; sister, Diana Keenoy; nieces & nephews, Marlo (George) Troy, Nicole & Kyle Troy; Brother in-law, Greg Rason; his beloved dog & biggest fan, Luna; a tight knit circle of friends, many of whom he's known since High School back in Fair Lawn.
Mark is predeceased by his parents, Max & Terry Scheingold; sister, Karen Rason; brothers-in-law, Tom Troy & Tom Keenoy; many cherished and respected pets.
His family would like to thank Memorial Sloan Kettering, Community Hospice, and The Hospice Inn for the care, compassion, and respect Mark & his family received. Special thanks to Mark's visiting nurse, Elizabeth, who was his greatest advocate, when it was crucial to his peaceful passing.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Donations in memory of Mark can be made to The Lakota Wolf Preserve, using the following link;
Or by going to - 'donate now' - 'donate in memory of Mark'
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com