Mark Alan Massa

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Mark Alan Massa, our loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend on May 24, 2025, at his home. He was 59 years old.

Mark was born on May 10, 1966, in Moline, Illinois, the son of Charles and Mary Lou (Wells) Massa. He met and fell in love with his best friend and life partner, Lisa Ricci, at Illinois Wesleyan University and they married on August 5, 1989. They created an amazing life with their two beautiful children, filled with travel adventures, a passion for fine food, and fun times with their extended family and cherished friends from their time living in Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, and Switzerland.

After graduating with an M.S. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Mark began his career in pharmaceutical discovery research for Pfizer where he worked for more than 30 years, retiring earlier this year as a Senior Principal Scientist. Mark loved to learn and tinker and could repair just about anything around the house. Mark enjoyed traveling the world with Lisa and the kids, entertaining his family and friends at home, swimming with his best four-legged friend Grizzly, crafting a great cocktail, jazz music, home brewing and a really good bourbon. He was an excellent napper known to his family for his ability to seek out a comfy place to snooze following a holiday meal.

Mark is survived by his wife, Lisa; his children, Zachary Massa and fiancée Sami Gibson, Minneapolis; daughter, Haley Massa, Chicago; parents, Charles and Mary Lou Massa; brother, John (Gina) Massa; sister, Kristin (Rob) Davis; brother-in-law, Joseph (Christy) Ricci; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Saturday May 31, 2025, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Cremation rites will follow services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Youth In Need, St. Charles, Missouri www.youthinneed.org/giving-volunteering/donate/ or to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) www.nami.org/get-involved/donate-to-nami/.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.