Mark Benson DeLoach was born on Aug. 16, 1963, in Lake Charles, Louisiana and died July 24, 2010, on Vashon Island, where he had lived for the past three years.

He leaves behind his daughter, Anabella Stout DeLoach, his father, Thomas DeLoach and his wife, stepmother Syble Baguer DeLoach, his brother David DeLoach, his parents-in-law Dan and Gayle Bator, and myriad friends across the country. He was predeceased by his wife Dana Engstrom DeLoach and his mother Margie Plunkett DeLoach. We are all sadder than we say about the unexpected loss of our dear Mark. A memorial service was held Sat., July 31, at the Presbyterian Church on Vashon.

Mark lived a passionate life. He was particularly devoted to Bella and to the rest of his extended family, including the wonderful family into which he married. He was in love with his USC Trojans (where he earned his PhD) and Dallas Cowboys (Mark spent much of his growing up years and early professional life in the Dallas area). He described himself as a fairly good debater while a student at UT-Arlington, but everyone else described him as an amazing debate coach and mentor at USC, Northern Arizona University, and the University of North Texas, where he was a tenured professor and an advocate for his students and for debate. He left UNT to become a principal with Leadership Research Institute, first working from Connecticut and then from Washington State, and he was among the most valued and respected in his firm. His strong sense of care for others led more than one friend to describe Mark as “the best man they had ever known.” It also led him to volunteer work at Vashon Youth & Family Services, where he as an active board member. Contributions can be made in Mark’s name to VYFS (via their website: www.vyfs.org; or send a check to PO Box 237, Vashon, WA 98070).

Those of us who knew him were as passionate about him as he was about us. We valued that he was at once rough around the edges and also kind and sensitive. We loved his sense of travel and adventure coupled with his intense love of home and community. We respected his incredible generosity and his commitment to others. Mark had a way of getting into people’s hearts and staying there. We will miss our son, our father, our brother, our friend.

(Paid obituary)