Mark V. Ibarguengoitia

Mark Ibarguengoitia (Ibar) passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 11th, 2022. He was 43 years old. He was preceded in death by his father Fernando Ibarguengoitia, his grandparents Josephine and Michael Paradiso and Mercedes Garde and Alfonso Ibarguengoitia, his uncles Gerard Paradiso and Alfonso Ibarguengoitia III, his Aunt and Uncle Matilde and Carlos Feijoo and their son, his cousin, Jorge Feijoo.

Mark is survived by his mother, Ann Marie Ibarguengoitia, his brother, Richard Ibarguengoitia and a loving family including dear Aunts and Uncles: Ellen and Tom Russo (Vermont), Michael Paradiso and Dana Higgenbotham (California), Kathi Paradiso (Maryland). Great Aunts/Uncles, Irene Maresco, Carmine (Maria) Pucci, Marie Pucci, Judy Pucci and Charlotte Paradiso all of New York; his cousins and their children: Antonio and Maria Feijoo, David and Molly Russo, Matthew and Kayla Russo; Chelsea Paradiso and Michael Paradiso; and, Alfonso and Marta Ibarguengoitia and Maria del Puy Ibarguengoitia, of Barcelona, Spain.

Mark was blessed with a large, loving extended family. The Paradiso and Pucci families stateside and Ibarguengoitia-Garde families in Spain. He was born on November 15, 1978 in Brooklyn, New York. The family moved to San Antonio in 1982.

Mark made lifelong friends at St. Luke Catholic School, which he attended from 1st -8th grade, and where he played soccer, basketball and baseball. His gift for making friends continued at Winston Churchill High School where he was a member of the wrestling team. Sports came somewhat naturally to Mark as his grandfather, and his uncle Alfonso had been professional Jai Alai players in Spain. But Mark’s true love was music. He learned the guitar and the keyboard and played with his High School friends at parties, in garages, and at music venues. Mark took a break during his college studies to backpack through Europe. When he returned to San Antonio he finished his studies and graduated from UTSA with a degree in cultural anthropology. His interest in world cultures enhanced his appreciation for and performance of various ethnic music styles. He also spent a summer studying at the Berklee College of Music. He had a wonderful gift with the acoustic guitar and took joy in music composition.

Mark’s friends remember him as a good friend who could find humor in any situation. They will also remember his personal burrito creation.

Mark would leave us all with his personal philosophy that he credits to a conversation with his beloved Uncle Gerard, “Be Yourself.”Mark we will love you always … and miss you forever.

We want to acknowledge Mark’s dear friends, Ben Mc Clellan, Joe McClellan, Andrew Stanley and Brian O’Connor who came to his bedside. We most especially thank the nurses of University Hospital, 8th and 6th ICU and ACU, who were so respectful in their caring for Mark and in their interactions with each of us. We’d also like to extend our appreciation to the Palliative Care team, Dr. Cervantez and Dr. LaCoss and most especially to our friend, Dr. Sandra Reilly and the Vitas Inpatient Hospice Unit who cared for Mark as he prepared for his final journey.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 11a.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1602 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78232. A Funeral Service will be held at Noon at St. Mark’s. An informal reception with light refreshments to follow in the Shalom Room.

The Funeral Service will be streamed. It can be accessed from the St. Mark the Evangelist Facebook page, or from a direct link which will be published on this site when it is available.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to:Mail in Donations : Vitas Health Care, 8401 Datapoint, Suite 300, SA, Tx 78229In memory of Mark IbarguengoitiaInclude a note to send acknowledgment of the gift (amount of the gift willnot be included) to: Ann Marie Ibar

ON LINE Donation link: https://vitascommunityconnection.org/Donation in memory of: Mark Ibarguengoitia