Mark Andrew Solack

Mark was kind. Really kind. He made friends wherever he went and was genuinely interested in the people he met. Somehow, he remembered an amazing amount about them too, including little things mentioned months or even years before. Birthdays and anniversaries were also his department. Mark made sure cards were sent and was usually the one with a thoughtful idea for a gift for family or friends. He paid attention.

A loyal friend and devoted husband, Mark loved his family. He worked hard, helped out wherever he could, and it was very unusual to hear him say a bad word about anyone. He also had a quirky sense of humor, a great laugh, and the best smile.

Mark attended Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle, where he ran cross country, and later Central Washington University. He returned to running as an adult and completed several half and full marathons over the years. Hiking, mountains and pretty much anything outdoors were favorites. Mark would suggest going for a walk, which sounded reasonable until you remembered that his definition of a walk was about five miles.

Mark loved sports too, especially baseball and football, and knew an impressive amount about players, teams and stats. There was usually a sports podcast in the mix, and he and Erin traveled to Cooperstown three times for Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekends. He loved the Seahawks and faithfully followed the Mariners, even when they made that difficult.

After a heart attack in 2024, Mark worked hard to get his strength and endurance back. He took his recovery seriously and was determined to get back to being active. The experience also led him to volunteer with the grief support group at St. Michael Parish in Olympia.

Helping people was a big part of Mark’s work. Since October 2022, he had been a Social Worker with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Before joining DSHS, Mark worked as a discharge planner at Providence Centralia Hospital, with a particular knack for the complicated cases—helping patients who had been in the hospital for a long time finally get discharged.

Mark and Erin were married for 19 years. He was a loyal and thoughtful husband, always supportive of Erin and whatever she decided to take on. He was an equal partner in every sense, quietly doing his share—and often more—of the everyday things that made their life together work.

Mostly, they really liked doing things together. Road trips, hiking, concerts, wineries and breweries, or just meeting up with friends for dinner or drinks. Trips back to Buffalo and Syracuse to spend time with Erin’s family were a regular part of their life, along with occasional trips to Hawaii and Mexico. Glacier National Park was a favorite. They visited four times and had been looking forward to returning again this September.

Music became a much bigger part of Mark’s life because of Erin, and eventually it was something they both loved—discovering new music, sharing songs and going to concerts together. Mark also encouraged Erin to get back to playing her flute, including joining the orchestra pit for Tenino Young at Heart Theatre’s summer musicals. He knew so many of the people involved in the shows and loved coming to performances and cheering everyone on.

Going anywhere with Mark did come with one complication: he was a wanderer. At an event or while traveling, Mark had a habit of disappearing to explore, look at something, or talk to someone. He could be surprisingly difficult to keep track of. There were usually souvenirs, too. Magnets came home from their travels, and his T-shirt collection included plenty of goofy graphic ones.

For almost ten years, Mark also had a pretty constant running and walking companion: Dory, their much-loved pup who passed away three years ago. Mark had been hesitant about getting a dog in the first place, but that didn’t last long. He absolutely adored her. Dory followed Mark everywhere she could, and the feeling was pretty mutual. They were buddies. They ran together for a couple of years, and later the runs became long walks instead. Mark loved just having her along.

Mark didn’t make a big production out of being a good person. He just was one. He would help, show up, encourage you, remember something you’d told him, or bring out a beer to share. Easygoing, a little quirky and completely himself, Mark was loved by so many people. His family, friends, coworkers, and many others he met along the way are going to miss him terribly—and they’re going to miss that smile.

Mark is survived by his wife, Erin Solack; his parents, John and Mary Solack; his brother, Brian Solack, and his wife, Jenine; his nieces and nephews; and many extended family members and friends.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael Parish, 1055 Boundary St SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

The Mass will also be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/5CDG5rLI9I4?si=zpImjwEhzUuCfNHl.

A reception will follow in the church gathering space, and everyone is welcome. Interment will take place after the reception with close family.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in Mark’s memory, gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society at

https://donate.cancer.org/ or Tenino Young at Heart Theatre at https://teninoyoungathearttheatre.org/.