Dr. Mark F. Bellinger

Dr. Mark F. Bellinger

Age 73, of Fox Chapel, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on April 20, 1948 in Syracuse, NY. He was the oldest son of Richard and Nancy (Dix) Bellinger.

Mark is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Catherine (Mahardy); loving father to Deb Morgan (Fritz) of Bedford, NH; Mike Bellinger of Blawnox; Todd Bellinger (Erin Sankey Bellinger) of Avonworth, and Katie Battilana (John) of Valencia; cherished grandfather of Avery and Rylan Morgan of Bedford, NH; Carson and Malaney Bellinger of Avonworth,  Mia and Kira Battilana of Valencia; dear brother of Diane Schillo (Bob), Tom Bellinger (Anita), John Bellinger (Daneen) and Rick Bellinger (Marcia).

Mark attended Christian Brother’s Academy, then LeMoyne College, followed by medical school at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY. As a pediatric urologist, Mark loved to wear fun ties to make the kids smile and he was well known for his Donald Duck impersonation.  He developed a passion for helping children in Africa who had limited access to surgeries. He traveled to Ghana, Zambia and Senegal through International Volunteers in Urology, to donate his time to perform back-to-back surgeries for several days, trying to help as many children as possible.

Upon Mark’s retirement from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, he dove headlong into his other passion, the sport of rowing. He started rowing at Three Rivers Rowing Association for exercise. When his youngest daughter started high school and remarked that rowing looked like fun, Mark decided to revitalize the Fox Chapel Area High School Crew team. He poured his heart and soul into every facet of the team from coaching, fundraising, and student-athlete mentoring. His dedication to the team is evident in the strength it has to this day. He often said about the team: “These kids are the heart of me”.

The family will receive friends Sunday, February 13th from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Weddell-Ajak Funeral Home, 100 Center Ave. Aspinwall. A Christian Funeral Mass will be held Monday, February 14th at  10 a.m. at Christ the King Parish, St. Scholastica Church, 309 Brilliant Ave. Aspinwall. Interment Private. The family requests those attending at the funeral home and church to please wear a mask. 

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to The Outlier Fund, www.theoutlierfund.org, which raises funds for Glioblastoma research and awareness; or Fox Chapel Area Crew Club, www.foxchapelcrew.org, to support the team and athletes.

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