After valiantly battling a life-threatening illness, our dear friend Mark Brodsky died Tuesday, May 2, at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View just minutes before Cecile and I went to sit vigil at his bedside. Mark can best be described as a mensch, which in Yiddish means to be supportive, to be a friend, and to have a caring heart. He also had desire of giving back to his community. He was a former mayor of Monte Sereno, and much beloved by the Rotary for all his mitzvahs (good deeds). He was also a policy advisor for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) who advocated proposals to reduce congestion on local freeways and reshape development. When Cecile and I downsized to Rinconada Hills seven years ago, he and his beloved wife and our dear friend Marleen followed our lead by moving into our gated community. It wasn’t too long before Mark became a board member of our HOA and got involved with the Tennis group.
A graduate of San Jose University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mark worked in the semi-conductor industry for many years, before deciding to start his own business called Laser Mark’s LLC, in 1988. It became the technology leader in Laser Processing Services. He also built custom lasers. Lasers were something we had in common, as I used a carbon dioxide in my podiatric medical practice back in the day. He also once made me a laser engraved business card, and other novelty items.
Mark loved his family, and his friends. He was a social butterfly, and never turned down an opportunity to attend a party or celebration. He had an endearing smile, a positive attitude, loved ball room dancing with Marleen. He also loved his Jewish faith and tradition, and loved telling jokes and stories. We were both born in 1950, and our birthdays were two months apart, his on July 26 and mine on August 26. Our respective wedding anniversaries were a day apart, and our favorite place to go to eat Italian food was Aldo’s, and Asian food at Mint Leaf.
Our favorite group activity with our circle of friends was our annual barbecue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz that Marleen would organize for us sometime during the Jewish Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. One of the favorite rituals Mark and the group loved was a ceremony called Tashlich. We would each take a morsel of bread and cast it into the ocean. It represents letting go of our mistakes, errors in judgement, regrets, and guilt in the hope that they will be washed away, like the bread in the current, our hearts would open to blessing and gratitude for the new year.
Rest peacefully Mark, and know your life was and is a blessing to all.
Postscript: Friends and family including our daughter Michelle and husband Kyle attended the gravesite burial service at Los Gatos Memorial Park yesterday and a repast luncheon afterwards at Rinconda Hills
