Mark
Best Ducharme, “the Buggyman,” passed away at the University of
Vermont Medical Center on December 27, 2024, with his life partner by
his side.
Mark
was born in Glens Falls, N.Y., during World War II to Lorraine Best
and Eugene Ducharme. He was raised in Winooski, Vt., with siblings
Gene, Sandy, Cheryl and Pam. His education included Rice High School,
where he was selected for Boys State, which started a lifelong love
of politics. Mark worked on Phil Hoff’s campaign for governor
before attending St. Francis College in Biddeford, Maine, where he
graduated in 1966 with a BA in English.
Mark
thereafter joined the U.S. Army, where he learned Swahili to work in
the Kenya Land Resettlement Program. During the Vietnam War, Mark
served in the 1st Air Cavalry, where his duties included writing
casualty reports. He volunteered for many missions, during one of
which his helicopter was shot down over the South China Sea. Mark was
subsequently awarded a Bronze Star.
Returning
stateside, Mark started his own business, moving houses and
buildings. Notable projects included the Whaling Museum in New
Bedford, Mass., and Benefit Street in Providence, R.I. Mark’s love
of old structures led him to branch out into architectural salvage,
and he personally led teams that preserved components of St.
Patrick’s in Providence and a range of notable ecclesiastical and
commercial buildings in New York City.
It
was while living and working in the metropolitan area that Mark met
Edward Barnes, who became his partner of 49 years. Mark and Eddie, as
they became known, created Buggyman Antiques in Johnson, Vt. Together
they established a thriving shop brimming with three centuries of
material culture and restored the Thomas McConnell house, built by a
veteran of the American Revolution.
Hundreds
of volumes on the wall behind the counter testified to Mark’s broad
knowledge. His eye was drawn to form, color, surface and
craftsmanship, and he appreciated a diversity of primitives,
high-style furniture, art both fine and folk, and the horse-drawn
vehicles that created his moniker. Mark was blessed with a tremendous
memory and outgoing personality, which allowed him to welcome and
connect with thousands of friends, neighbors and casual visitors.
Mark
never met a dog he did not love, and they were welcomed to the shop
with fresh water and treats. For many years, whenever you saw Mark,
Cyrus the English springer spaniel was by his side. The contents of
countless boxes of Tootsie Pops left in the hands of the shop’s
youngest visitors; the pops sat next to a donation jar for the North
Country Animal League. Mark steered proceeds from merchandise and
insurance appraisals to that organization for decades.
Declining
health forced Mark to shutter Buggyman Antiques in May 2023, when 45
years in the antiques trade ended with a two-day on-site auction.
Less than two months later, flooding devastated the Lamoille Valley,
claiming Mark and Ed’s home, among many, many others. The rest, as
Mark would say, is history.
A
celebration of life for his 80 years will be held at a date to be
determined this spring, with interment at the Vermont Veterans
Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, Vt. He will rest among his military
comrades, amid the rolling hills of the Green Mountains he so loved.
Mark lived his life with passion, enthusiasm and joy. His
contributions, and quiet charity, left the world in a better place.
Rest in peace, our friend.
Memorial
contributions in Mark’s memory may be made to the North Country Animal League, 16 Mountain View Meadow Rd., Morrisville, VT 05661. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and
condolences.
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2025.