Mark E. Libertone Sr.

Wellsville, NY - Mark E. Libertone Sr., 65, of 222 Madison Street passed away on Monday, September 16, 2013 at home with his family at his side. He was born September 14, 1948 in Syracuse the son of the late Ernest and Ida (Demperio) Libertone. On August 23, 1969 in Solvay, NY he married Mary Elizabeth Torzon who survives.

Mark was a 1968 graduate of Solvay High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University with a B.F.A. in Art and a M.S. in Synaesthetic Education. He served with the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972, achieving the rank of Specialist 5th Class. He moved his family to Wellsville in 1981and taught art at Wellsville High School till 1984.  

He was employed at Umiker Monument Works as a layout and design artist. In 1990 he began freelancing as a graphic artist and in 1999 began working in computer graphics. He was the official artist for the Greater Wellsville Trout Derby since its inception. He also had illustrations in Fly Fisherman Magazine and the Maine Sportsman Magazine.

Mark was avid outdoorsman, but was especially known for his love of fly-fishing. He wrote numerous articles for the Wellsville Daily Reporter as well as for online magazines. He was an international known fly tyer, often doing fly tying demonstrations. His fly patterns can be found on various web sites. He was a founding member and served as both President and Secretary of the Upper Genesee River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He was a past member of the Wellsville Rod & Gun Club, where he served as a New York State Certified Hunter Education Instructor for 20 years. He was the Founder of Flymphforum.com; where you can learn and discuss flymphs, soft hackles and spiders. He was also co-founder of the International Brotherhood of the Flymph with his good friends, Jim Slattery & William Anderson.   

Surviving in addition to his wife is one son, Mark (Tammy) Libertone II of Wellsville, four daughters, Margaret (Doug) Dixon, Mary (Andrew) Dailey, Michelle (Bill) Libertone-Cook all of Wellsville and Melissa (Harley) Lamphier of Scio, one brother, Carl (Cheryl) Libertone of Solvay, 14 grandchildren, Cody, Caitlyn, Jessica & Maegan Dixon, Nathaniel Libertone, Austin Dailey, Mark Libertone III, Elinor Cook, Harley II, Gwendolyn and Lincoln Lamphier, Camille, Dustin & Colin Norton, great-grandson, Nathaniel Libertone Jr, three brothers-in-law, Tony (Carmela) Torzon of Liverpool, Frank (Pam) Torzon of Solvay and Joseph Torzon of Syracuse, three sisters-in-law, Virginia (Ray) Anthony, Betty (Kevin) Green  and Jeanette (Allan) Leonard all of Syracuse and his Godchildren, Kristopher & Kristen Green of Syracuse ; as well as several nieces nephews and his beloved Yorkie companion, Nellie.

He was predeceased in addition to his parents, by four grandchildren, Logan & Hunter Dixon and twins, Victor & Vincent Lamphier, his inlaws, Anthony and Virginia (DeGaetano) Torzon, brothers-in-law, John and Steve Torzon, grandmother, Margaret Rinaldo Moseuk and grandfather, Carmine D'Imperio. 

Friends are invited to call on Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm and Friday from 10 to 10:30 am at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 20, 2013 at 11:00 in St. Joseph's Church in Scio, NY with Rev. Sean DiMaria as Celebrant. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellsville. The family suggests memorial donations to Home Care & Hospice. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome .com.