Mark Richard Rinfret

Portsmouth, RI - Mark Richard Rinfret, 61, of Portsmouth, RI, died Saturday, surrounded by his loving family November 12, 2011 at Newport Hospital, Newport, RI.He was the husband of Penny Hoffman Rinfret. Born in Exeter, NH on December 27, 1949, he was the son of Leona Mae Jordan Rinfret of Somersworth, NH and the late Richard Rinfret. He is survived by his wife Penny Rinfret of Portsmouth, RI, his daughters Robyn Chapman of Middletown, RI, and her son Timothy, Kimberlee Sheffield and her daughters, Amanda, and Amber Chilton of Middletown, RI, Renee Tingstad and her husband Gordon of Portsmouth, RI, and their children, John and Ashley, son Matthew Rinfret and Kathleen Lemler and their daughter, Sydney Rose of Newport, RI, his two nieces and two nephews. Mark served in the United States Army for two years in Germany.Mark had a very successful career of more than thirty years in the Computer Software Industry. His career started out at the Naval Underwater Systems Center and Hadron Inc. working on the services for the U.S. Navys Standard Computer UYK-7, and was instrumental in the development of the computer systems for the Trident Submarine project. In 1983, Mark joined SofTech where he contributed to the development of the U.S. Armys Ada Language System as well as other projects for Raytheon and the U.S. Navy. Mark and a team of other SofTech engineers founded HyperView Systems Corp in Middletown, RI in 1987. During his time there, Mark developed many of the key software elements of the HyperView product line that, at the time, were the most advanced multimedia delivery solutions available in the market. After Hyperview closed its doors in 1991, Mark moved on to become the Unix System Manager at Stanley Bostich, where he managed a large network of diverse Unix systems and complex network infrastructures.In 2000, Mark rejoined several of the HyperView team members, in establishing the East Coast Development Center, for a San Diego, CA startup company PacketVideo Corp. For the last 11 years, Mark was a key member of a software development team that produced innovative video and music delivery services for cellular operators and carriers worldwide. These services are available on 100s of millions of cell phones, smart phones and tablets all over the world. Marks last position, Senior Software Engineer, was with Alcatel-Lucent, who acquired part of the PacketVideo, in 2003.Mark attended the University of New Hampshire and the University of Rhode Island. He was a past Grand Knight of the Middletown Knights of Columbus, as well as past District Deputy. He loved music and for many years, was a member of the Newport Concert Band playing the Saxophone. He was a member of Jesus Savior Church, where he was a lector. He loved nature, and would often take his grand daughters for walks at Sachuest Point Nature Preserve. He loved gardening, his parish and his canine companion Zeke and his family. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and Papa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2011, at 10:00am in Jesus Savior Church, 509 Broadway Newport.Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.At the request of the family, calling hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Jesus Savior Church. 509 Broadway Newport, RI 02840.