Mark Piekarz, software developer

Mark A. Piekarz of St. Augustine, Fla., a software developer who lived here as a boy, died on Saturday, March 12, 2005, in St. Augustine. He was 38 years old.

Mr. Piekarz was born in Yonkers, N.Y., on Jan. 4, 1967, son of Donald R. and Elizabeth Speth Piekarz of Ridgefield. He attended Yonkers schools and at the age of 10, moved with his family to Ridgefield. Here, he was a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, attended Ridgefield schools, and graduated from Ridgefield High School in 1985. He went on to obtain his bachelor of science in computer science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

A software developer, Mr. Piekarz first worked for Dupont of Wilmington, Del. He later became an independent software consultant and most recently was a software developer for Citigroup.

During his career, several of his software developments later became patented.

He enjoyed music, was an avid reader and most recently took up the sports of surfing and sailing.

Besides his parents of Ridgefield, Mr. Piekarz is survivived by two brothers, Eric Piekarz and his wife Wynter of Madison, and Craig Piekarz and his wife Mary of Southborough, Mass.; his maternal grandmother, Ella Speth of Yonkers; four nieces, one nephew and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 in St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 520 Ridgebury Road.

Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.