Dr. Mark E. Rollins, 82, passed away unexpectedly in his Machiasport, Maine home on Friday, June 13. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on February 19th, 1943 to Merton and Isabella Rollins, Mark was known exclusively as "Chucky" as a child, a diminutive of his father's nickname "Woodchuck Rollins" (from his reputation as the neighborhood groundhog manager). Mark, and his younger brother Scott, grew up learning about cars from mucking about in the broken down Model A truck in the backyard, tools from a neighbor's woodshed, and running around the backroads of Massachusetts with his childhood best friend, Spencer Moore. As a young adult, Mark worked a variety of jobs ranging from life guard (perhaps not the best option for a redhead in a pre-sunscreen era) to Friendly's cook (he was fired for not smiling enough), to mechanic in a local garage (which granted him the opportunity to earn his NASCAR license, required for loading and unloading the boss' racecar from the trailer). He even worked as a wine steward at the Wiggins Tavern in the Hotel Northampton during grad school. As a young man, Mark picked up a variety of hobbies (not all of which were for impressing girls) including tennis, sailing, and horseback riding. Mark was the first member of his family to attend college, earning his bachelor's degree in psychology at American International College. He pivoted from psychology to English as he entered graduate school at U Mass, where he earned his Ph.D. in 18th-century English literature. An opportunity to lead a pioneering program at Ohio University – the Experimental College (a living-learning English program) – brought Mark to Athens, Ohio. Here he met his best friend, Dr. Robert DeMott. Mark and Bob taught classes in Ellis Hall for 55 years, and Mark was instrumental in developing the English Department's technical writing program and was an essential force in establishing one of the first student computer laboratories in Ellis Hall in the mid-1980s. When not teaching, Mark developed as a Renaissance man. He loved learning about the history of things, connecting with people, and learning new skills. Not only did this tendency expand his repertoire of hobbies, it gave him opportunities to exchange ideas with people from various walks of life. Mark loved to converse with friends and strangers, his talks showcasing his wide experience and knowledge, his playful wit, a fondness for puns, and more than occasional bits of colorful language. Mark taught himself photography in grad school. A few years later he sold off his photo equipment, as a short-term job writing for the Kentucky Horse Park Museum led him into horseback riding. From there, his interests wandered into motorcycle repair before pivoting to boats, classic cars, Land Rovers and collecting WWI memorabilia – all the while maintaining an interest in applying carpentry and woodworking skills to restoring and preserving antiques. Mark developed both skills and friendships through his love of handball and racketball. Mark taught himself (or bartered with friends) the skills he needed to build his own home: carpentry, plumbing, brick laying, and electrical. His first owned home consisted of two 19th century log cabins he rescued from burn piles, loaded onto logging trucks, and reassembled with the help of eager friends and the promise of free beer. While building his home, Mark fell in love with and married JoAnn Korshak. Together they welcomed two daughters, Alison and Abigail. Mark and JoAnn continued to chip away at the finishing touches on the cabins for the next 45+ years. Ready for the next challenge, Mark and JoAnn visited Washington County Maine in the early 80s at the urging of Mark's friend and English Department colleague, Paul Nelson. They fell in love with the location and purchased an 1880s raised cape at the insistence of Bertram Clark, a man who would prove to be a dear friend and neighbor. Mark and JoAnn spent the next 40+ years restoring their home on Clark's Point each summer when Mark was not distracted with sailboats, motorboats, or boatbuilding classes at the Wooden Boat School in Brooklin, Maine. Mark was a volunteer in the Cooper House of the Machiasport Historical Society, where he also served as a board member for many years. He loved the company of dogs, feeding and watching birds, and cheering on chipmunks. With feigned reluctance, Mark rescued numerous cats over the years, often when they wandered up to him while he was felling, splitting and stacking wood to heat his Ohio home. Mark is predeceased by his father, Merton H. Rollins and mother, Isabella Low (Duncan) Rollins. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Rollins, daughters Alison Rollins (Benjamin Colbert) and Abigail Rollins (Matthew Whiton), and grandsons Sebastian Clark Colbert and Elijah Mark Colbert. Mark is also survived by his beloved brother Scott Rollins (Laurel Rollins), nieces McKenzie Rollins (Josh Myers) and Katie Bishop (Ethan Kendrick), and nephews Alex Lavnick, Jamie Bishop (Jamie LaRue), Ben Huston, Jack Huston, and Sam Huston. Mark is also survived by his goddaughter, Elizabeth DeMott. He also leaves behind Boswell, his loyal labradoodle, a collection of beautifully restored antique furniture, a personal library of several thousand books, two and a half nearly completed homes, and approximately six dozen unfinished projects. Mark's life will be celebrated with a memorial service in Athens, Ohio in the late fall. Details will be shared with family and friends as they come together. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations might be made in Mark's memory to the Machiasport Historical Society, American International College, or the Ernest Hofer Fund at the University of Massachusetts. Arrangements are under the compassionate care of Mays Funeral Home & Cremation Services.