WHITE STONE—It is with great sadness that the family of Mark “Shep” Sheppard, owner of Kodiak Construct LLC, announces his passing on Saturday, February 11, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones.
Mark was born January 18, 1963, and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, where he spent the majority of his life. Brilliant and full of energy, he could not be contained. He was racing down ski slopes at the age of four, played the piano and alto sax, was an avid sailor, loved both ocean and sky diving, and any activities that involved daredevil risk and excitement.
He loved animals and trained Labrador retrievers alongside his parents and siblings. They spent many years, as a family, participating in and/or judging hunting trials with their dogs.
A huge fan of both Eric Clapton and the Grateful Dead, he had music playing at all times. Mark spent his younger years following the Grateful Dead. In fact, he and Amalia met at a Grateful Dead concert at Rutgers University when she was 16 years old and he was 18. In recent years, they travelled to see Dark Star Orchestra, a band that recreates Grateful Dead shows, wherever and whenever they could.
He excelled at everything he did, and that is no exaggeration, but he loved to build most of all. He had much success in New Jersey as owner of Kodiak Construction, king of the Add-A-Level, and here in Virginia as owner of Kodiak Construct, LLC. He loved nothing more than seeing the finished product created with his own hands and a smile on the face of a satisfied client. He was a tough boss who worked right alongside his crew, climbing ladders even on crutches! He demanded perfection from himself and those he employed.
Shep left us exactly as he lived, with courage, strength, determination, resiliency and HEART. He put his all into everything he did and those of us who knew him were better for it.
He leaves behind his fiancé, Amalia Elizabeth Morrissey; his mother, Diane Sheppard; his brother and sister-in-law, Roy and Judy Sheppard; his sister and brother-in-law, Kim and Joe Mandarino; his siblings’ children and their families; his in-laws-to-be, George and Amalia Morrissey, and stepson, Chris Morrissey and wife, Tanya; great nieces and nephews; road warriors David Hanscom and Na’ama Caspi; his Kodiak Construct crew; and friends near and far, too numerous to name.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Sheppard, who passed away in May; and many, many dear friends who went before him.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the White Stone Church of the Nazarene, 57 Whisk Drive, White Stone.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Shep’s honor to Northern Neck Partners for Pets, P.O. Box 361, Irvington, VA 22480; or go to www.alivingtribute.org to have a tree planted on his behalf.
