Mark grew up in a single-parent household in Danbury, Connecticut where he and his brother were raised by their mother for the first nine years of his life. That all changed in 1973 when Mark’s mother married his step-father, Charles Pancrazio … someone that Mark regards as the most important man in his life.
In 1993, Mark married his wife - Linda - and together, they had two beautiful daughters: Julia and Celina. Family has always been the center of his life. Mark recalls that when he attended one of the very first masses at the church in the town where he started his family, the priest pointed to a statue of The Holy Family (which was near the altar) and proclaimed during his homily that “if you’ve got one of those,” meaning, a good family, “the rest of your life is easy.” That lesson was never lost on Mark.
Mark enjoys helping families navigate through their legal issues. Mark’s wife – Linda – is a geriatric social worker and has dedicated her life to working with the elderly for the past 28 years. In that time, Mark and Linda have shared their expertise with one another, with both offering each other insights on issues with legal implications facing our elderly population.
Considering the importance of family in Mark’s life, his legal experience and his wife’s expertise in the field of geriatrics, Mark has committed himself to helping people facing all sorts of legal issues related to aging.
Education
Mark went through the entire Danbury Public School system until his graduation from Danbury High School in 1982. Thereafter, he attended Central Connecticut State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Business Administration. After graduating from college, Mark attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he graduated in 1990 with a Juris Doctor Degree.
Dedicated to Fighting for his Clients
Mark began his legal career clerking for the Connecticut Superior Court. After his clerkships ended, he worked as an attorney for Connecticut Legal Services in Middletown. From 1994 to 2011, Mark practiced law in a small firm in New Fairfield. In May of 2011, Mark established a solo practice. In September of 2013, he joined the firm of Mix & Goldman, LLC in Danbury, where he remained until March 1, 2016, when he joined the firm of Cipparone & Zaccaro, P.C.
Early in his career, Mark was shaped by an experience that drove his passion to help people who were marginalized by society. Mark represented a Portuguese man who did not speak English very well. This man was an unskilled laborer who was an employee of a manufacturing business in Danbury. The man was fired from his job and when the man went to the Department of Labor to make a claim for unemployment compensation benefits, the Department of Labor rejected his claim. The employer claimed that this man had stolen some tools and equipment that belonged to the employer. At the hearing, Mark subpoenaed the employer and other witnesses and elicited testimony which proved that his client was innocent. The Department of Labor ruled in favor of Mark’s client and his client received unemployment compensation benefits. Every time Mark is faced with a client in a difficult situation, he is reminded of that case -- it causes him to fight as hard as he can for his clients.
A Leader Who Gives Back to the Community
Mark served for two years as President of the Men’s Club of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church. In addition, he was the Retreat Chairperson for five years. In 2009, he was elected to serve on his church’s parish council where he served for a total of six years.
In 2013, Mark began volunteering at the Overflow Homeless Shelter at the First Congregational Church in Danbury. In January of 2015, he started working at a mission for the homeless in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2014 and 2015 Mark was also a member of the Northern Fairfield County Chapter of the United Way of Western Connecticut.
Mark is the former President of the Fairfield County Business Club and has served as a member of that networking group from 1999 to 2013. In 2015, Mark served as the President of the Greater Danbury Business Association. Since 2014, Mark has been a member of Membership Success, a BNI chapter in Brookfield. From 2011 to 2013, Mark was a member of the Western Connecticut Senior Alliance where he worked with a team of professionals who provided services and educational resources geared towards helping seniors and their caregivers.
A Guest Lecturer & Author
Mark has also served as a guest lecturer on elder law topics at St. Teresa’s Church as well as at the New Fairfield Senior Center. Mark is also the author of numerous articles on legal issues related to Residential Real Estate Transactions. In 2011, Mark spoke on behalf of the Western Connecticut Senior Alliance in a series of elder law workshops at Masonicare of Newtown, as well as a panel speaker for the Western Connecticut Senior Alliance in a series of workshops held in the summer of 2012 at the Woodbury Senior Center.
Active in Bar and Realtor Associations
In 1997, Mark served as the Chairperson of the Law Day Subcommittee for the Danbury Bar Association. Mark was also a member of and actively involved in the Northern Fairfield County Association of Realtors. Mark has taught a continuing education course on Connecticut Law & Fair Housing which was offered four times throughout the spring of 2000. He is currently a member of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.
A Musician, Too
For several years, Mark has been one of the lead singers – along with his good friend Tim Roosa – in their rock-n-roll band: Root Six. The band has performed at the Hollow Park in Woodbury during their summer concert series. They’ve performed at several other benefits and gigs in Woodbury, Southbury, Watertown, Bethlehem and surrounding towns. On April 30, 2012, Mark was featured in the Connecticut Law Tribune in an article entitled “Out of the Shower and Onto the Stage,” which talked about his passion for playing rock and roll music.
