In Loving Memory of Mark Pierzecki

Hope Is Legit - The Mark Pierzecki Project was created to honor a life that was unforgettable in every sense of the word. Mark Pierzecki was someone you didn’t just meet, you remembered. A graduate and faithful fan of the University of Michigan, a loyal fan of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions, a runner, a softball player, a car enthusiast, and someone who could fix just about anything, Mark lived life with passion, curiosity, and a natural ability to connect with people.

He was charismatic, funny, and incredibly intelligent, but what truly set him apart was the way he shared that intelligence. Mark had a gift for explaining things in a way that made you feel understood, never talked down to. He was a mentor, a role model, and a teacher to so many.

He was also the ultimate storyteller, the kind of person who could light up a room, make you laugh with a perfectly timed “that’s what she said,” celebrate a moment with a loud “Yahtzee,” and somehow remember your name the next time he saw you. To know Mark was to love him.

He was a devoted husband, an incredible father, a loving son, brother, uncle, and a fiercely loyal friend. These were the roles he valued most, and the ones he carried with the greatest pride, especially being a girl dad. 

The name “Hope Is Legit” comes from one of Mark’s favorite sayings, because to him, everything was “legit.” It was simple, genuine, and perfectly him.

When Mark passed, over 800 people came to pay their respects which was a true reflection of the lives he touched and the impact he made.

This organization exists to carry his spirit forward. Through every event, every connection, and every life we touch, we honor Mark by turning love into action and loss into purpose.

Because of him, we believe, now more than ever, that hope is legit.