Mark Alan Williams

Mark Alan Williams, 72, of Vernon, died peacefully on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at Vernon Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Mark was a resident of Vernon for the past 3 years and had lived in Hebron for 29 years prior to moving to Vernon. Mark is survived by his loving wife, Jo-Ann of 37 years and his son Ryan Williams and his wife Sarah of Vernon and his sister, Leslie Williams of Mission Viejo, CA. He also leaves his grandchildren, Hailey Ann Williams, Jaxon Ryan Williams, and Lyla Danielle Williams all of Vernon, and his brother-in-law, Charles Edward Smythe of Port Jervis, NY. He was predeceased by his daughter, Kerry Margaret Williams.
Mark grew up in Hamden, CT and was a graduate of Hamden High School. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree in Sociology from Quinnipiac College and later his masters' degree in Community Psychology from The University of New Haven. He worked as the Human Services Director for the Town of Rocky Hill from 1982 until his retirement in 2013, delivering social services to the residents of Rocky Hill for 31 years.
Mark was an avid bicyclist and once spent a week cycling to the state of Maine and back on a solo trip. He also loved to swim. He followed professional baseball and football and although he resided in Connecticut, his favorite teams were the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Browns. After receiving a lifetime of bewildered looks he confided his favorite players were Rocky Colavito and Jim Brown.
Mark enjoyed volunteer work. He volunteered with the Salvation Army where he served as a team member for one week providing food and supplies to the front-line volunteers and recovery workers at ground zero after 9/11. Mark particularly enjoyed his volunteer work as a member of the Rotary Club for many years. He served as President of the Wethersfield/Rocky Hill Rotary club for two years. Mark cherished the years he spent volunteering and coaching little league baseball and softball when his children were young.
A kind, caring, loving, and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, he will be dearly missed.
His family will receive friends on Friday, February 9, 2024, from 4-6 p.m., at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Rd. (Rte. 83) Vernon. A prayer service will follow in the funeral home beginning at 6 p.m. A private burial in the spring will be held in the Gilead Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.