Mark Fischer Comes Home

Mark Fischer has come home in every sense of that phrase. A Pittsburgh native raised in Shaler, Mark earned his degree in Elementary Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania before moving to Maryland, where he was a teacher for 22 years.

During that time, Fischer met and married his wife Rachel. They initially met through work, where Rachel was teaching English while Mark taught middle school science and social studies. They married in 2006 and have three boys, Steele (age 12), Colte (age 11), and Trace Ray (age 8).

In 2018, the Fischer family returned home – back to Pennsylvania – to be closer to family. When his wife accepted a job helping at-risk young people at JusticeWorks in Butler, Fischer focused on finding a position that allowed him to be present with his three young boys. He found the perfect home as the facilities maintenance coordinator at Dutilh Church.

Fischer typically arrives at work in the wee hours of the morning and is able to be home in time to get his sons off the school bus. He coaches his son Trace’s football team and is around to help with homework in the afternoons.

“Dutilh truly encourages family first,” Fischer said.

While Fischer appreciates the flexibility his position allows, he says the people at Dutilh Church are his favorite part of his job.

Fischer enjoys his colleagues on the Dutilh staff, the people he knows through his role on Dutilh’s building committee, and also the people he engages with in the larger Dutilh family. He is particularly excited about the role he will play in Dutilh’s planned renovation and expansion that will soon be underway.

As a faithful Baptist who was raised Catholic, married in a Methodist church, and is currently a member of Butler’s Assembly of God Church, Fischer also values working at Dutilh because it matters to him to be part of a Christian environment. The importance of his faith frequently bubbles up in his conversation and he says if someone sees him with headphones on while working, he is probably listening to K-LOVE.

In addition to his love for contemporary Christian songs, Fischer also enjoys country music. His current favorite song is “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me.

A nine-year football veteran who started playing in elementary school and continued on through his senior year of high school, Fischer also loves watching football-themed movies with his kids. Little Giants, Rudy, and Woodlawn are among his favorites.

Though John Denver is most definitely not on Fischer’s playlist, it is perhaps a line from a John Denver song that best describes Fischer’s return to Western Pennsylvania: “Hey, it’s good to be back home again.” Fischer’s homecoming has been a win for Dutilh Church as well.