Mark passed away on May 14, 2023.  He had battled cancer since 2018. He is survived by his wife, Holly, his four children, Marlo, Matthew, Megan, and Benjamin, and nine grandchildren. Living also are his mother, Leila, his two brothers –Jay and Barry, and his sister, Lynn. Mark was a high school German teacher for most of his career. He taught at private schools and for twenty-five years in the Virginia Beach school system where he retired in 2007. Mark also taught thirty-five years as an assistant professor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he taught humanities, English, psychology, philosophy, and speech. In 2008 Mark received the award of Instructor of the Year for the Hampton Roads area for Embry-Riddle. He coached basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, track, and chess. Mark won several grants, most notable was the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education, won in 1994 for “Chess for Cognitive Development.” He stayed active after retirement, spending a lot of time teaching chess for the Hampton Roads Chess Association. In 2021 a chess tournament was named after Mark for his work with chess and young people over a period of twenty-five years. Mark loved family, and would often say, “It was always nice having kids running around.” Mark loved writing and was the President of The Virginia Beach Writers. He published two books, and numerous articles on trapping, chess, and the outdoors. In 2018, Mark’s essay won the finals for “The Great American Think-Off,” which took place in New York Mills, MN. As a Christian, Mark often ended his conversation with, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Services will be held at the Kings Grant Presbyterian church, 745 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, 23452 on June 16 at 2:00 p.m. Following the service, there will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall. For those unable to attend in person, the livestream of the service can be accessed here: https://youtube.com/live/-MKOKyzVfME?feature=share