Mark E. Barrett

Hampton - Mark E. Barrett, of Woburn and Hampton Beach, passed away peacefully at the age of 69, surrounded by his loving family. Mark is survived by his devoted siblings: Ted Barrett and his wife Lilla, Barbara Barrett, Jackie Kirwin and her husband Bob, Michelle Arsenault and her husband Tom, and Jerry Barrett, all of Woburn. He was a proud uncle to his nieces: Erin DeSalvo and her husband Richie, Jacqui Clooney and her husband Ryan, Emma Barrett, and Nicole Kirwin; and his nephews: Godsons Matt and Christian Barrett, Ted Barrett, and Tommy and Mikey Arsenault. He was also a cherished grand-uncle to Chase and Kenni Clooney and Peyton DeSalvo. Mark had a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Mark’s extended “four legged family” included his beloved canine nieces Harley Kirwin, Bella Arsenault, and Josie Barrett, as well as feline nephews Toby and Bo Barrett. Mark was predeceased by his parents, Edward J. and Marilyn T. Barrett. Mark was, above all, a brilliant and passionate man. He was gifted with exceptional intelligence and he had wide knowledge on vast and varied topics. He was an excellent conversationalist. He loved talking about literally everything… sports, celebrities, movies and tv, current events, all that was happening with his nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, the memories of playing sports, the memories of all of our Hampton days, and of course, memories of the one and only Freckles. Mark was a graduate of Woburn High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor's degree from the University of Lowell and later worked in the field of accounting. Mark was also an eloquent writer and he wrote a lot of poetry. In High School, they held an essay contest. Of course, Mark’s essay was chosen and he got to be Mayor for a day. Mark went to live in California for several years before going to college. It was a very happy time for him. He spoke fondly of those memories. It was a completely different world and it left a lasting impression on him. Mark possessed a level of natural athleticism that was hard to match. On top of that, he worked very long and hard to further perfect his skills in all the sports in which he participated. He was very competitive and he always played to win. Mark’s athletic legacy was deep-rooted in the Woburn community—he played in Woburn Little League, Babe Ruth League, Woburn Youth Hockey, and the Woburn Senior Hockey League. He went on to be a standout at Xaverian High School and later at Boston State College, where he scored over 100 career points and led his hockey team in scoring. Mark had a lifelong and serious passion for sports, both as a participant and a devoted fan. He attended some of the most iconic moments in sports history, including Carlton Fisk’s dramatic home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, Dave Henderson’s go-ahead homer in California, and the infamous 1986 World Series Game 6 in New York. These are just to name a few. He was also there for Bobby Orr’s legendary overtime goal on May 10, 1970, when the Bruins clinched the Stanley Cup against the St Louis Blues. He was actually sitting beside Ken Hodge, right on the convertible with him, during that Stanley Cup Parade. Our mom saw him and yelled out, “Mark, what are you doing?” Mark smiled and waved. He knew him from a hockey camp. He was full of surprises. Mark was also known for his many years as a softball umpire in the Woburn and Boston area, where his competitive spirit and deep understanding of the game earned him great respect. Mark’s love of Hampton Beach was lifelong—it was where he spent his teenage summers working at the iconic Tastee Tower and where he found peace and joy throughout his life. He was a deeply devoted fan of rock and roll music and attended many amazing concerts. He was also a fan of Motown and Folk. When you spent time with him, there would be a lot of singing involved. Mark was a lifelong horse racing enthusiast, who looked forward every year to handicapping the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races. He would study the programs intensely. It’s actually how Mark approached everything. Mark never forgot a birthday. He would call to make sincere well wishes, and then he always followed up singing a hearty "Happy Birthday to You". He never missed one birthday. We are all going to miss that. We are going to miss him. Mark was a true believer in God, and he enjoyed watching Masses on television. We are fortunate to have a life long family friend, Father John McLaughlin, who will lead a graveside Rite of Committal service for Mark at the High Street Cemetery in Hampton, NH on Friday, 8/1/25 at 3:00 pm. A Mass and Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

Mark E. Barrett

June 15, 1956 - July 20, 2025