Remembering Mark Mitri

Channel 2 They got some facts wrong, but the spirit is right. Mark Mitri was a great guy and had wonderful energy and a great spirit. He died a few weeks ago in a Cheektowaga House Fire.

The first time I met him he was with a group of Slow Spokes about 7 years or so ago wearing fluorescent yellow shirts, his emblazoned “Mouth,” his brother Rick’s “Medic.”

I approached him with my notes. At the time, I wrote a weekly travelog about Slow Roll celebrating people and the character of the ride.

Mark was character. He greeted me warmly, handed me a coin for Slow Spokes and told me how to join. I signed up for the Facebook group.

At first he seemed rough around the edges, a little gruff, an unapologetic smoker and a partier since he was a teen but there was a spirit and good cheer that followed him everywhere.

Eventually the Slow Spokes were riding from Old Man River on Wednesdays and helping lead the Clarence Hollow Market rides as well as joining  the Peanut Rolls.

I remember riding with Mark on a Peanut Roll, not being ready for how strenuous it was and bailing to head back to The Rock for beers. There was no shame, only joy.

The Peanut Roll is still grinding, a grassroots effort to connect the railroad right-of-way to Clarence’s Peanut line. It was never completed because neighbors rallied against it. I have hiked it on a cold winter night and looked in people's windows. My question remains: When a railroad right-of-way is adjacent to your yard, let the buyer beware, sooner or later a bikepath is coming. 

Every time I saw Mark he had a warm smile, a hug and, at the end of the ride, a little bottle of Fireball.

He even came to our house and helped set up a finicky computer printer.

A couple years ago, jobs and life changed for me. We sold our house in Clarence and moved to Niagara Falls. I started in on other activities and stopped doing as many community rides as I once did.

I miss the spirit and joy that folks like Mark and friends brought to my life. Rest in peace my friend.

https://www.wgrz.com/video/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/71-d6ae2af2-e980-46…