Saturday, September 9, 2023
My wife Sherry and I met Mark in 1999. He was my daughters soccer coach. Mark and I became friends quickly. He became my golf partner for years, who did not judge my bad golf. Although, I would see a cringe on his face a I shanked another ball into the woods. We would reminisce about our kids and families. He talked fondly of growing up in Dundee and his family.
Later in his life we stilled golfed. By this time Mark was having trouble walking so we would go to the beginning of the fairway so he could tee off. One day we were golfing slow and a twosome had caught up to us. We tried to let them play through but they said no and for us to take our time. I teed off and drove to the fairway. Mark stepped out of the cart and fell to the ground. He rolled to the left and ended in front of the cart with his legs hanging to the right of the cart. I knew enough to give Mark a few seconds to regain his composure before helping him up. The two guys behind us, came driving up and blurted out to me, “cannot believe you ran him over”! I was dumbfounded and speechless at first. I said no he fell. I looked down at Mark laying face down on the ground and saw his body shaking from laughing at what the guys said. The two guys helped pick Mark up and assisted him to the golf cart. As the two pulled away he looked at me says oops and started laughing. We finished the 9 holes.
Not only was Mark my golf partner, but a great friend and I will miss him. He will be in my heart.
