It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the passing of Mark Fabbri '70, a beloved member of the Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Cathedral community.
'Fab', as he was affectionately known, was a dedicated, passionate individual with an unmatched wit and a generous soul. He took great pride and care in helping his community and guiding SHC students to become the best versions of themselves. He held numerous roles within the school, including Football Coach, Director of Alumni Relations and Director of Development.
Classmates, Brother Christopher Brady, FSC, '70 and former SHC Director of Admissions Tim Burke '70 were among the many community members who witnessed Fabbri's dedication. "He was a good person who brought many smiles to people's faces. He was a terrific storyteller about himself and others and, most importantly, he raised three wonderful daughters of whom he was most proud," Brother Christopher said.
Fabbri led many student-athletes to succeed on the field of competition and in life, helping them achieve their athletic goals and continue their love of sport at the next level of competition. He worked as an assistant coach in the 1970s at SH under classmate Ed Cota '70 and then Frank Lee '76, and current SHC Athletic Director Phil Freed '80 during the 1990s. "Coach Fab was always the life of the party and touched the lives of all those people who interacted with him during his time as a student and employee at Sacred Heart and Sacred Heart Cathedral. He had a humor about him that was infectious. He made playing football fun. He made you love the sport, and he made you feel a part of the team. His wit and humor made painful and challenging situations easier to handle, and he did this with staff and students alike. I will remember Fab as a person whom I looked up to as a big brother," Freed said.
"When we learned of the news of Mark Fabbri, so many people told me wonderful memories about him as a coach, colleague and classmate. After hearing these amazing stories, I realized that Mark was a dedicated member of our community, and he embodied and supported the mission of Sacred Heart Cathedral through the various roles he held here. The community will miss him dearly," President Melinda Skrade said.
After his time at SHC, he continued to serve his community by working in the field of philanthropy. He also coached football at Sacred Heart Preparatory, Atherton.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time, including his daughters Aimee '98, Amanda '00, Alicia '03 and granddaughter, Delilah Sampior '27.
