Mark Taylor Pilgrim of Berwick, Maine passed away on Sunday in Portsmouth, NH to the sorrow of his family and friends. Born in Portsmouth in 1940, Mark was the son of Ollaster Connors Pilgrim and Constance (Hatch) Pilgrim. Raised in Kittery, Mark was a graduate of Traip Academy and attended Boston College, graduating in 1962.

Taking an Armor Officer commission in the U.S. Army, Mark served his country for twenty-two years. His service included two tours in Vietnam, along with assignments to Germany and around the United States. He furthered his education during his career by earning his Master's degree. Retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, he turned his talents to developing training programs for the nuclear power industry. His second career took him around the country from Vermont to New Mexico to South Carolina.

Returning to Maine in the fall of 2003, Mark settled in Berwick and devoted himself to the community. An active member of both the VFW and American Legion, he was a former commander of American Legion Post #79. Mark was particularly proud of his work with the Pease Greeters and his time with the Berwick Winter Farmers Market Committee.

Mark is survived by his wife, Ann, three children and three grand-children, his brother and sisters.

Services: Visiting hours will be held on Friday, October 21st, from 4-6pm at the J. S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road, Kittery, ME. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the American Legion Post #79 or the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5744. Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery per his wish and to the relief of his family, who, while willing to sprinkle his ashes from the Navy Yard's No 2 bridge, weren't sure they were up for a long term stay at a government facility.