Mark Deck
Mark John Deck, age 73, of Lincoln and Nantucket, passed away peacefully and in the comfort of his home on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, following a hard-fought, six-year battle with pancreatic cancer. In his final days, his wife, his four children and all nine grandchildren surrounded him with love and affection. In true Mark spirit, he had his quick wit and sense of humor until his last breath.
He was born on Halloween 1952 in New Orleans, the son of the late Raymond and Veronica (Abbick) Deck. Growing up, the family moved from Louisiana to Wisconsin to Massachusetts and eventually settled in West Hartford, Conn. He was a graduate of Kingswood Oxford High School with the class of 1970. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Syracuse University. Mark worked as a middle school math teacher before pursuing his MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management in 1979. Subsequently, he was employed by MDS and Mercer before joining PRTM.
Mark joined the management consulting firm Pittiglio, Rabin, Todd & McGrath (PRTM) as a partner in 1995 in PRTM’s Weston, and subsequently Waltham, office. Mark led PRTM’s product development and innovation practice — PACE — enhancing the firm’s capabilities and position in this important market. As part of the firm’s global expansion, Mark spent four years in Shanghai helping to build PRTM’s team and market presence in China. Mark also helped support the initial integration efforts after PwC’s acquisition of PRTM before retiring at the end of 2011. Throughout his PRTM tenure, Mark was known across the firm as a product development expert, an adept team builder, and a consummate mentor. Mark knew the importance of balancing work with fun, as exemplified by hosting PRTM partners at his home watching the opening action sequence from every James Bond movie. Mark fully lived up to PRTM’s core value – make an impact – both personally and professionally.
An avid cyclist, Mark proudly completed the Pan Mass Challenge twelve times. His love of biking aside, his devotion to cancer care and research was his true mission, and he continued to ride and raise money for years following his own diagnosis. As a forty-year Lincoln resident, Mark volunteered for town committees that benefited the school system. He was a member of First Parish in Lincoln, where he also participated with the choir. An amateur carpenter and handyman, there was never a home project Mark didn’t enjoy. A special highlight was the renovation and restoration work to convert a 110 year-old farm house barn into his wife’s quilting studio in Lincoln.
His love of sports, especially the Red Sox, never wavered. His fondness for the team was represented by the names of his respective boats — “Fenway Faithful” and “Still Faithful”. He enjoyed music, and was a firm believer in using music as a medium for healing, communication, and meaningful connections. He was an avid consumer of The New York Times crossword puzzle, and also completed Wordle and Connections puzzles with Tricia every day. He traveled extensively, and was always seeking out new adventures and unique culinary experiences. In addition to his summer house on Nantucket, his family cabin on Lake Willoughby, Vt., always held a special place in his heart. He cherished his time there, whether it was water skiing, making memories with his family, sipping on a Manhattan or stargazing on the deck.
Fundamental to Mark’s character was his undying dedication to his wife, Tricia. As high-school sweethearts, they were inseparable from the day they met. Their supportive and loving relationship was a crucial part of Mark’s advice on how to live a happy and fulfilling life. Mark maximized every moment in life, always leading with love, and never shying away from a challenge.
Mark embodied the rare gift of bringing people together and fostering meaningful relationships. He leaves behind an amazing network of connection through the lives he enriched with his unconditional love. He was an extraordinary grandfather and a supportive uncle and great-uncle. Through good times and bad, Mark could be leaned on for advice, moral support, or just a good laugh.
Mark’s memory and legacy will live on through his wife of 51 years, Tricia (Purrington) Deck and their four children: Wilbur Deck and his wife Reba, Eliza Ryan and her husband Damion, Heidi Ledbetter and her husband, Emmett, and Michela Deck and her husband, Sam Treadway. He was the proud “Pop Pop” of Zachary (25), Gabrielle (23), Pearl (13), Odin (10), Donnie (7), Corbin (5), Piper (5), Teagan (2) and Lucia (1). He also leaves behind his siblings, Barbara Deck, Michael Deck, Mimi Rutledge and her husband, Tom, two sisters-in-law, Priscilla Deck and Sarah Fujiwara, along with many nieces, nephews and extended family. Mark was predeceased by two brothers, Raymond Deck Jr. and Kevin Deck.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Mark’s life during a memorial service at First Parish of Lincoln on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 10:00am, with a reception immediately following. Burial at Lincoln Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mark’s honor may be made to support cancer research and care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), specifically targeting pancreatic cancer research.
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. The service will be livestreamed here. To share a memory or post on Mark’s tribute page, click here.
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