I got some very sad news this morning.
PFA forum poster "shoeshine box", also a regular listener to PFA Radio and personal friend of mine, passed away at age 58.
You may have also known him as "Robert Souza", the name he used to post on Facebook. His real name was Mark Fucile.
I got to know Mark via the Las Vegas poker scene. It's actually more accurate to say that he got to know me. He somehow found PFA Radio, and took an immense liking to it. Whenever he would end up dealing at my poker tables around Vegas -- whether it was WSOP or cash games -- he would happily greet me, and then instruct everyone at the table to start listening to my show. I also somehow ran well nearly every time he dealt to me, so I enjoyed seeing him show up for two reasons.
This eventually evolved into a friendship, and Mark and I would text back and forth a lot. I quickly learned that Mark was one of the most genuine, good-hearted guys in poker. There are a lot of guys in poker whom seem nice on the surface, but always seem to be out for themselves, and whom you wouldn't have a hard time picturing stabbing you in the back. That wasn't Mark. Anyone who knew him can testify that he was the real deal, and that he was always straightforward, up front, and trustworthy.
Another friend of Mark's said of him, "Hard to find a more earnest person than NY Mark." Exactly!
Mark was definitely a character. You'd never forget him after you met him -- a thick New York accent, always saying what's on his mind, but with a kind demeanor rather than a brusque one. When he dealt WSOP tables, players unfamiliar with him didn't know what to think. He wasn't one of those quiet dealers who would keep their heads down and just pitch cards. Mark immediately became part of the conversation -- though he always did his job very well and efficiently.
Unfortunately, Mark didn't run very well with health. He had cancer, and came close to death once before. A few years ago, he called into radio and told a harrowing story about needing a dangerous surgery to extend his life -- one with a 30% death rate! The doctor told Mark that he didn't like performing these surgeries, because 3 in 10 people don't wake back up, and said he'd probably be better off just controlling his pain and living out his remaining time. Mark fearlessly told the doctor that he already made peace with dying, and that he was certain he wanted the surgery, even with the 30% chance of death from the procedure. Imagine going under for surgery and knowing there's a 30% chance you won't wake up. Mark did it, and fortunately he fell on the right side of that one, and went on to live several more years.
He was still having surgeries this fall related to his cancer. Unfortunately, time finally ran out for him.
We lost him way too young. This was a guy who deserved to live to 100, not 58.
Ironically, Mark's last post was saying "RIP" regarding another person who passed -- Michael Nesmith. That was on December 10.
We will be doing a memorial freeroll for him during next radio, and the episode will also be dedicated to his memory.
RIP shoeshine box / NY Mark
(He's the tall guy on the right below)
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Originally Posted by Dan Druff
