We'd like to share Mark's life with you today as he is being laid to rest on a date that is Chai as Mark gave life in his passing. Mark was a devoted son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
My brother was remarkable from the day he was born. He was adored by both his parents who supported and provided for him in every way possible that he succeed in his life. He was a loving brother who watched over and protected me from the day that I was born as he thought I was born for him so he decided to take ownership taught me everything I knew, as he would tell everyone, as he helped me learn to crawl, helped me learn to walk, and ride a bike. He was very good at helping with my math homework too.
Following his path in school was not easy as I had to explain to the teachers that I was his sister but I wasn't as smart as he was.
Yes Mark was a brilliant child far superior and gifted in math and sciences which were the paths he took after graduating high school in Savannah, Georgia where we were reared and educated, then to Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor's of Science and on to Columbia University and the City Colleges of New York, receiving double Masters in Science and Nuclear studies where he simultaneously attended classes to advance himself in preparation for attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known as MIT. There he excelled further and with this knowledge as a Nuclear Physicist he later became an integral part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of the United States government under President Jimmy Carter. Mark later accepted a position under Governor Ronald Reagan in California for their nuclear program and was soon assigned to UC Berkeley which had a robust and strong exploratory process in his field. There he engaged with like-minded scientists and professionals in research and understanding the broad spectrum of nuclear energy.
Mark was devoted and loved his Judaism for as long as I could remember. He would be at synagogue on Shabbat Friday nights and Saturdays morning services, and when he was old enough he pleaded with his father that he could make minyan. Mark also was very active in various youth organizations on Sundays at synagogue as well.
Those of you who knew my brother knew a kind, loving and caring man who gave to everyone everything he had. Mark was not without his challenges, however it did not affect his pursuing his Torah studies, attending services at synagogues and chabads across the Metro San Francisco and Bay areas.
My son Sammy has fond memories of his Uncle. Both he and his wife Rachel are with me to celebrate his life.
I also want to mention familyJerriAnn and Gary Jacobs his two dear friends Irina Khavina and Tomer Drori in Israel. Their love and caring has been an incredible support for our small family as has Rabbi Ferris and the Rebbizen Mirium.
I know Hashem will welcome him with open arms as he rests eternally here ,near his mother and shrouded in his father's Taliz.