Mark was born on July 5, 1946 in Escondido, California. He earned his Bachelors from California State University, Fullerton in 1968 and received a scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University where he received his Masters in Anthropology in 1970, he then earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology from Arizona State University in 1976. He was internationally known and respected as an Archaeologist and was well loved by his students through his entire career. Mark retired as Professor Emeritus from California State University Northridge in 2005 where he also ran the Northridge Center for Public Archaeology. His list of research projects, grants, and publications is extensive. In particular, he worked in Mexico and coastal California.
After retirement, Mark continued to teach part time in Kansas and Missouri and continued to mentor students in both Archaeology and Geology with projects in Missouri and Mexico. Mark was the recipient of many awards and honors including being named Professor of the Year at California State University Northridge in 1999. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for California Archaeology in 2005. Additionally, he received the Distinguished Teacher Award from the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri Kansas City in 2011. He leaves behind a legacy in the field of Archaeology that will continue to resonate for generations to come. Students will not only remember him for his dedication and contributions but also for his sense of humor and crazy ties.
Mark was an extremely skilled craftsman and mechanic and shared these gifts with friends and family. He became quite the whisky connoisseur, even teaching whisky tasting classes as a hobby. He was also an accomplished photographer. In short, Mark was the quintessential Renaissance Man.
Mark is survived by his wife, Ann; his daughter, Jessica; his son, Conor; his stepdaughter, Sarah; his grandchildren, Conor Jr., George and David; and his beloved dog, Lucy.
A rosary will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Weston, Missouri starting at 5 pm on Friday, August 23 with visitation to immediately follow until 7 pm. The funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be the following day; Saturday, August 24, also at Holy Trinity Catholic Church starting at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Knights of Columbus Council #12288, 407 Cherry St., Weston, MO 64098.
Family would like to thank the staff and caregivers with Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for their kindness and support.
