Mark S Blau

Mark Stephen Blau, 79, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2022, cared for and watched over during his last days by Catharine (Cay) Trigg, his soulmate of 32 years, wife since 1999, and his grown children, Jennifer Martin and Jeremy Blau.

Son of the late Dorothy (nee Trolin) and Joseph Blau, Mark was born in Manhattan on December 31, 1942, and lived on the Upper West Side until 1956. After graduating from Scarsdale High School in 1960, “Daddy Mark”, as his younger siblings called him, attended Syracuse University where he majored in Economics and was Vice President of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.

An athlete and natural teacher from an early age, Mark worked as a counselor at Balfour Lake Camp where he taught water skiing. He was an avid tennis player who passed on his love of the game to his wife, children and grandchildren.

Mark enjoyed a long and successful career as an independent real estate developer. After a brief tenure at Rose Associates in the mid 60’s, he founded Meed Development and over the next decades, applied his construction knowledge, business acumen and vision to multiple projects in New York’s West Village, Tribeca and Chelsea, as well as condo developments in West

Palm Beach, Florida and Joplin, Missouri.

Mark has always loved children. After retiring, he joined Cay and their dog, Pippa, in volunteering through The Reading to Dogs program, working with students at PS 15. In the words of the Asst. Principal, “He was a highlight of the school experience for every student he read with. His warm attention, kindness and humor had a visible impact on the children”

For all his professional triumphs, it is Mark’s humanity that will live on in our memories: his elegant style, his taste in furnishings and art, the magnificent roof garden that he conceived and tended with Cay, his good advice (“Don’t worry until you have something to worry about”), his thoughtfulness and generosity. Sometimes impatient (“Cut to the chase”), Mark was always willing to listen…and share a bowl of ice cream.

Mark is survived by Cay, Jen and her husband Peter Martin, Jeremy and his partner Yori Castle, stepson Evan Ruster and his wife Kat; grandsons, Henry, Sam and Charlie Martin; siblings Eileen Blau and Eric Blau; and Pippa, his canine companion. A celebration of Mark’s life will happen in the coming months.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mark Blau Reading Fund at PS15. This fund will support students in the development of reading interests and skills. To donate online:

https://www.fundforpublicschools.org/donate

Gift Designation: PS15M (01M015) The Mark Blau Reading Fund

Or by check:

The Fund for Public Schools

Attn: School-Based Gifts & Grants

52 Chambers Street, Room 305

New York, NY 10007

Gift Designation: PS15M (01M015) The Mark Blau Reading Fund