Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
We shall miss him coming to Blakes to play backgammon on a regular basis. Bern, he and Marites were practicing Catholics. A great shame, we are well acquainted with the genetic disease he had and I shall shortly start a thread to try to raise awareness of the disorder among forumites. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Marek always had thought provoking comments to make and challenged us all in the most charming way. We had a few chats about being Catholic! It is a marvellous idea to start that thread Peter.
It would be a fitting tribute to him Peter
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Terrible news. RIP Marek.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
We have been contacted by Mareks family. Mareks wife Marites has contacted ColetteB over various matters relating to the death...and I had the following email from Mareks nephew. Many thanks Carl...sincere condolences at this difficult time. As I mentioned earlier, and as you can see from all the posts on this thread, Marek was a geat forumite here with us for a long time.... he will be missed by all.
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Dear Paul,
My name is Carl Walker and I am the nephew of Christopher Mark Putka, known to his family as Mark. This morning I looked for the Dover forum as he used to talk about it so much and I was interested to see what all the fuss was about. As you will see, I am a journalist in Jersey so we often spoke about our different roles in journalism!
I can only find your email as a point of contact for the forum and was wondering if you could help me out please?
Firstly, could I check with yourself - or your members - if I can perhaps pass on some of the touching comments left about my uncle Mark to the family member who will be saying a few words at his funeral (date unknown as yet) so that he could consider reading them out?
Also, could you or someone, point me in the direction of some of the last postings he made on the site. I know he had a unique and intelligent sense of humour and would also like to have the option of reading out some of his most recent postings too.
So that you know, my uncle Mark died at around 5.30pm on Christmas Eve after a hard-fought day-long battle to stay alive following a huge heart attack during the early hours of Christmas Eve, which was quickly followed by some pretty major medical complications. He was surrounded by about 20 family members, including both sons - one of whom flew in from Liverpool that evening. It is a huge shock for all of us and we are all still in a bit of daze. That said, I am sure the comments left on this site will go a long way to comforting the family.
Thank you all,
Carl Walker
News Editor
Jersey Evening Post
PS I don't mind if you wish to publish my comments in the forum about my uncle so that people know what's going on and what we would like to do with their comments.
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Such horrid news , Marek you will be missed i hope you rest in peace love from Mel , Mark and family xxxxxxxxxxxx
THank you Paul , I would be happy for anything I have written to be used , but I am sure that comments from other forumites are far more fitting to the occasion . My very best wishes to any of Mareks family and friends who may be looking iin , He touched many lives
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Thanks Paul, such sad news.
I had the honour of spending a little time with Mark when Natascha (AKA Mulan) was on the Carnival circuit. He was such a character and always made me laugh.
Give my hugs to everyone and we shall of course be thinking of you all during this side time.
They always take the best ones on Christmas Eve I have found, although this wont be a comfort just yet.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
It's such a sad way to go but how lovely that he was surrounded by so many of his friends and family. I still can't believe it. Although I never met him we used to chat via Doverforum and via the odd e mail when he found something of interest for me. As many mentioned previously, he was a true legend.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
He certainly was Jeane.
Thank You Carl - my wife and I pass to you our sincerest condolences and hope that Marites and Natascha can get through this very sad time. We are thinking of them at this time.
We may have been on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but I had the highest regard for him.
Shortly before he went to Jersey, we were working on a huge Filipino festival to be held at Kearsney; with his connections, I'm sure it would have been a great success.
Roger
Guest 1694- Registered: 24 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,087
Really sad to hear this news. Both Lorna and I knew him and Marites as fellow members of the local Filipino community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Thank you very much Carl for your email and sincerest condolences to you and all Marek's family at this very sad and difficult time. Marek was a very special man and much loved by everyone on Doverforum, we will miss him terribly.
Marites telephoned me yesterday, we had a very comforting conversation about Marek. There is a Family meeting today and she said she will come back to me with details of funeral arrangements. We talked about how Marek's larger that life personality is keeping the angels happy in Heaven.She is being very strong for Natascha who is missing her Daddy so much.
Marites is very pleased about the special mass being said at St Pauls for Marek, will let everyone know details soon.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
i echo the sentiments above,my condolences to the famly and frinds.may god be with you marek.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Further email from Carl.
Many thanks Carl for the information at this very sad time.
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Hi Paul,
Thank you so much for your kind words and support. Also, thank you for getting back to me so quickly and for providing me with a log on for the forum. I've had a good read of some of my uncle's comments this morning, which has given us a great insight into his online life.
In case you wish to pass the information on to your fellow forumites, the funeral is taking place at 1pm Friday in St Helier, Jersey. He is to be laid to rest in St Helier also.
I'll be in touch if there's any more information to pass on,
Thank you again - and especially to everyone taking the time to leave tributes on the forum thread.
Carl.
Carl Walker
News Editor
Jersey Evening Post
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Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Marites has emailed me with funeral details. The funeral will take place in the little chapel where Marek went for Sunday service since living in Jersey. Its called 'Little Sisters of the Poor' a very appropriate name as Marek was always giving to others. As Carl says above it is at 1pm on Friday 30th, thank you Carl.
Will update any other details later.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
Sorry to read this. Really sad news. A nice chap, remember him as one of the bunch that used the Orange Tree with my Dad.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
I am sure come friday our thoughts will be with Marites and Natasha, and all of Mareks family as has been said thank you to Carl the forumites will miss him.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
R.I.P. Marek, your comments and personality will be sadly missed. I am happy that your family have been able to sort things out so quickly (wish it could be so on the mainland).
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Just had the following email from Sid Perkins...
Many thanks Sid
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Hi Paul,
I just saw the sad news regarding Marek on the forum and would like to add my condolences to those already expressed. Marek and I occasionally conversed via email on subjects that were a bit too sensitive to express on DoverForum. I held him as a person, and his views, in the highest regard and, like many others, will miss his online banter.
Vbrgds
Sid
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The funeral takes place today.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
About an hour to go for Marek's funeral in Jersey. Hope the family are able to hold it together - for each other.
It really does seem so sad and unreal that he has passed away and will be no more.
We all have good, fond memories of him and those will stay forever.
Rest in Peace Marek.
Jean and Roger