Mark Jonathan Magone

Mark Jonathan Magone passed away unexpectedly from an apparent cardiac event in his family home on the evening of Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022. Mark was born on Aug. 7, 1955, in Monongahela Memorial Hospital in New Eagle, son of the late Capt. Albert Frank (U.S. Army, retired) and Wanda Mae Previtali Magone, who survives. From childhood, Mark was athletic and excelled at tennis and baseball. He learned to play tennis at the Mounds Park in Monongahela in a summer program sponsored jointly by the City of Monongahela and the Monongahela School District, taught by Eddie Nicholanco, Lee Marraccini and others. While in college, Mark returned as a tennis instructor to teach in the same program. After the program was disbanded, Mark returned home as a volunteer to give back to his community and taught tennis to area youth. Mark played peanut league, minor league and second base on the Cardinals Little League team coached by his Dad, Al. Mark was on the all-star team at all three levels. Mark was a “Rudy Polaski newspaper boy” and started delivering the Daily Republican newspapers in elementary school. Mark learned the value of saving money as a paper boy, buying U.S. Savings Bonds regularly that later helped to fund his college education. From his mother, Wanda, Mark learned practical wisdom through proverbs. As an eighth grader at Finley Junior High School, when Mark forgot his nickel for lunch money, teacher, Mr. George Beckey offered him the money to buy lunch, but Mark declined, saying “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” Upon entering high school, Ringgold had no tennis team and Mark circulated a petition that he presented to the school board to start a boy’s tennis team. He was successful in starting the team and was one of the top players in the WPIAL on a team coached by Mr. Keith McMonagle. After graduating from Ringgold High School in 1973, Mark attended California State College on a tennis scholarship and then transferred to Robert Morris College, where he also received a tennis scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in August 1979. Mark was invited to Florida to work as a teaching tennis professional in 1980 at Bardmoor County Club in Largo, Fla., by Mr. Harry Hopman, known as the greatest tennis coach of all time. Hopman was the coach captain of the Australian Davis Cup team. Mark worked with and trained such top talents as Arthur Ashe, Chris Evert, Björn Borg, Vitas Gerulaitis, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jennifer Capriati, Andres Gomez, Jimmy Courier and others. Mark also taught tennis in Bologna, Italy, the Dominican Republic and Spain. The Harry Hopman Academy later moved to the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla., where Mark continued his career and made his residence. Mark was a member of the USPTA, the United States Professional Tennis Association. Mark was a devoted and dutiful son and traveled home often to help his parents. Mark was known for the trim work he painted on the exterior of the family home and the meticulous lawn care he provided. Passers-by often stopped to compliment him for his work and some tried to recruit him to work for them. Mark was a great coach and friend to many. Upon learning of his untimely passing, many of his tennis friends cried and said there will never be another Mark or anyone who loved tennis or giving lessons more. Mark was of a protector of his family members. He was a loyal brother and uncle and is survived by his sister, Laura M. Magone and sister Dr. Maria E. Magone; brother-in law, Dr. Clint B. Geller; niece, Dr. Anne E. Geller; brother, Frank D. Magone Esq. and sister-in-law Cindy; and nieces, Elizabeth and Alexandra. A private funeral service was held Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Monongahela, led by Mark’s sister Laura. Interment followed at Monongahela Cemetery with a committal service led by the Rev. Jude Urso. An outdoor memorial service will be held later. FRYE FUNERAL HOME INC., 427 W. Main St., Monongahela, was entrusted with the arrangements. Memorial contributions can be made to help build a tennis court in the City of Monongahela to the Mark J. Magone Memorial Tennis Court Fund, c/o CFS Bank, 1220 West Main St., Monongahela, PA, 15063. While the match of Mark’s life ended far sooner than his friends and family wanted, Mark won a grand slam in the hearts of those who knew him. He will be forever missed.