Monday, April 25th, 1949 – Sunday, August 10th, 2025
Obituary
Mark P. Driscoll, 76, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, formerly of Arlington, Massachusetts, passed away on Sunday, August 10, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
He was born on April 25, 1949, in Arlington, Massachusetts. The son of the late Joseph Henry and Kathleen Jane (O’Keefe) Driscoll. He was part of a large Irish family with eight siblings.
Mark was born and raised in Arlington, Massachusetts, where he distinguished himself as an exceptional athlete. Mark attended Arlington High School, where he excelled in football, baseball, and hockey. He was named All State quarterback and led his football team to an undefeated season and a state championship in 1966; he was named an All-State shortstop for the Arlington baseball team twice; and as goalie for the hockey team, he added another state championship to his high school resume. In his junior year, Mark’s Arlington High School teams only lost two games combined.
Mark was named to the Life Magazine All American Football Team in 1966 and was later named to the Boston Park League and Intercity Baseball League Hall of Fame. He was heavily recruited for college football and baseball, but he was 5’ 8”, and to play quarterback in a Power 5 conference is unheard of at that height. However, the University of Arizona recognized his unique talent and offered him a scholarship to play football for the Arizona Wildcats. Mark graduated from Arlington High School in 1967 and then made his way to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. Bear down!
During Mark’s first year as a Wildcat, freshmen were not eligible to play at the varsity level per NCAA rules. His sophomore year, he was named the starting quarterback for a Wildcats team that went 8 and 2 and accepted a bid to play in the Sun Bowl (the second-oldest bowl in the country) in El Paso, Texas. Arizona hadn’t played in a bowl game in 50 years at the time!
In Mark’s junior year, he separated his right shoulder during practice after their first game, putting an end to his football season, but that didn’t stop him. He switched his football scholarship to a baseball scholarship, playing second base and leading the team in hitting. Mark and his teammates ended the baseball season ranked the #1 team in the country and headed to the College World Series. Mark’s success at the University of Arizona had everyone in the southwest wondering who was this 5’8” kid from Massachusetts?
Mark’s brother once asked, “How many people do you know that played in a college football bowl game and the college baseball world series?” Mark’s nephew answered, “Not many!”
Mark’s tenacity, dedication, precision, and agility led him to be ranked as one of the top quarterbacks and athletes in the history of the University of Arizona, and he was fondly referred to as the “Pepper Pot” by the Arizona faithful.
In 1970, during Mark’s junior year, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and left the University of Arizona to pursue a career in professional baseball. Mark spent two years in the minor leagues playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Oakland A’s. When his playing days were over, Mark returned to Boston, where he worked as a bartender at The Dockside Bar and Restaurant, charming his customers with his craft cocktails and conversation!
During this time in Boston, he also acted as an assistant baseball coach at Harvard University, where he developed a lifelong passion for coaching young athletes. Mark also spent three years coaching with one of the New York Yankees’ minor league affiliates and as a batting practice coach for the Seattle Mariners.
Ultimately, Mark relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. After arriving in Arizona, Mark was introduced to Barbara Kelly by mutual friends. Mark and Barbara “Kel” were married on May 27, 1995, in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Mark and Kel spent several years in Arizona, where Mark established himself in the transportation business, providing airport transportation services for Hilton Hotels and private clients. Mark never met a stranger and was highly sought after for his interesting narratives and warm welcomes. Mark’s heart never left Boston, and Mark and Kel returned to Boston, where Mark owned and operated Major League Limousine for two years.
Ultimately, Mark and Kel settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Mark spent time working at Carthage College in campus security. He enjoyed working with the students and assisting young athletes whenever the opportunity arose. He loved spending time with his grandson, Michael, and giving various nieces and nephews coaching advice.
Mark’s passion for helping young athletes, his love for Boston and his quick wit and charm will be remembered by all. To know Mark was to love Mark!
Mark is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barbara Kelly Driscoll; stepchildren, Kerry Kelly and Sean (Nicole) Kelly; step-grandson, Michael Howlett Kelly; brothers, James (Caroline) Driscoll and Kevin (Cathy) Driscoll; sister, Kathy Veinot; brother-in-law, Michael Mahoney; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Driscoll; several nieces and nephews; and dear friend, Andrea Cardini.
In addition to his parents, Mark was preceded in death by his brothers, Joseph (Cindy) Driscoll, Paul Driscoll, and Brian Driscoll; sisters, Patricia Mahoney, and Mary (Tom) Tropiano; and brother-in-law, Billy Veinot.
A celebration of life and service will be held in Boston, Massachusetts, and Collegeville, Minnesota. Mark will be laid to rest at the St. John’s Abbey Cemetery. Details will be provided at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Yawkee Foundation in support of The Boston Park League, the Dementia Society, or another charity of your choice, in Mark’s memory.
https://bostonparkleague.org/
https://yawkeyfoundation.org/
https://www.dementiasociety.org/
https://saintjohnsabbey.org/cemetery
