No remembrance of Mark would be complete without a good fishin' story-so here goes...Once upon a time my family took a trip to Sergeants beach for a weekend of food,fishin and fun. After many failed attempts at casting a standard fishing pole, I decided to give the Donald Duck kiddie size pole a try-and it worked great-I was reelin em in. I told Mark that it worked so well for me I would buy one. The next day back at home I recieved a call from Mark. He was telling me that God had answered my prayers. I said what do you mean? He said he stopped to get gas on the way home from Sergeants and lo and behold, laying inside a barrel was a kiddie sized Donald Duck fishin pole! ( I thought wow! Lord THAT WAS FAST!) But you know Mark,God really answered my prayers when he gave me a brother like you...

An Irish Saying

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow...
I am the diamond glints on snow...
I am the sunlight on ripened grain...
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight...
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there... I did not die…

You are soaring on the winds, uplifted by the love and joy you leave behind. May you forever live in our hearts. And may God's loving hand comfort and cradle those you leave behind so that they may find peace. Until we meet again, Mark...Love, Chera

Mark was 19 and I was 21, my father was an attorney and represented Felipe Zombrano a Portagese Bull fighter out of Monterey Mexico. So my Dad invited Mark and I to go with him to Monterey sort of a bussiness/pleasure trip. Felipe had a beautiful 200 year old Hacienda with a bull ring. While we were there Felipe put on a show for us, Mark and I sat in the stands away from the big group. The bull was about 2 years old probably 300 to 350 pounds ( he was mean too ). The horns had not turned forward yet but were a good 8 to 10 inches out on each side of the bulls head. When Felipe was done my Dad stands up looks at Mark and I and says "You want to fight Z Bull" well Mark and I were on our third or fourth Tequila Sunrise, so " Hell yes we will fight Z Bull". I went first did pretty good on the bulls first 2 passes on the third pass his horn hit my hip and I was down. Got up running and felt the bulls head on my ass, went about 3' in air, barely got to safety, Mark was cracking up said he never saw me move so quick. O.K. hotshot your turn, well you know how big Mark is and he had enough Tequila that he was 10' tall and bullett proof. Mark was in the ring with the cape, the bull started charging, he threw the cape down thinking he could throw the bull to the ground, the bull ran over him like a freight train. I ran into the ring and we barely got out with out having to take anouther ass whopping. From then on we called ourselves " The Greatest BULLSHIPPERS in all of Mexico". I Love You Brother, We will meet again.   David  

I don't even know where to begin... Mark & I have had known each other and had so many fun times... Here's a good one.

When we both worked at Bayside in the old days.. (I still work there), in 1981 I was pregnant with my daughter Rachel. Mark and I would go out to eat every day... he's the only one that would go with me to James Coney Island EVERY day... that was my craving... we would go there so people would see us every day and assume we were a couple. We had such fun fooling people.. they would come up to us and ask when our baby was due and Mark would say... " oh, that's not my baby!" or "I don't know the father"... or something every time... we just laughed and laughed all the time which so many people I'm sure did when they were around Mark. I don't know that I will ever have a friend like this ever again... we could not talk for years and years and then random phone calls and our friendship never missed a beat... big sis is looking after him now.

My heart is breaking for fam which I have known forever and for you too Susan... I know your heart is empty too. Don't know what else to say. Love you guys.