Mark Aldhizer

On the 22nd of June, Merrill (Mel) Aldhizer lost her best friend; Julie Aldhizer lost her brother; Tim Bevan lost his brother from another mother; thirteen (no worries – he wasn’t superstitious – LOTS of black cats) nieces and nephews lost an amazing uncle; and countless people lost an amazing friend.

Mark Aldhizer left us physically, but you can never erase the indelible impression he left on every person he ever met. With his sharp wit, he could make you smile, no matter how dire the situation.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take. It is not measured by the number of times your heart beats. It is measured by the impression you leave in your wake – your legacy. Mark’s legacy –easy-going; generous but humble; goofy; able to see the absurdity of everyday life with a hearty laugh and a great smile; fun-loving; trustworthy; kind toward people and animals (especially cats); compassionate; loyal - always there to lend a hand; a true craftsman; loved music; loved to fish; great cook; an ardent lover of nature and advocate for animals (emphasis on cats); but most of all loving and deeply loved.

As you read this think not about what you have lost, but about what you have gained. Think of the legacy left by your loved one. We intend to do that every day by not referring to Mark in the past tense, because he will be with us and part of our lives forever.

Oh, did we mention cats? In lieu of anything, Mark would appreciate donations to Jasper Animal Rescue Mission at jarmission.org.