Mark Kaufki

Mark Alan Kaufki, formerly of Philadelphia, PA, passed away at the age of 77 on May 1st, 2020.

Mark was born on November 7, 1942 and was raised, along with his younger sister Susan, by his parents Philip and Bernice Kaufki in the shore community of Asbury Park, NJ.

Mark had many fond memories of his life in Asbury Park. His father owned a shoe store, Kaufki Shoes, and Mark spent his summers working as a golf caddy, camp counselor, and lifeguard. Mark’s paternal grandparents, aunt, and beloved cousins resided in the same community and the stories of their years and time together were many. Mark especially loved to recount his lunchtime visits at his grandparent’s house during the school day. Mark’s maternal grandparents lived in New York City and he visited with them on weekends and sometimes for a week at a time. Together they would enjoy all that NYC had to offer. Nanny, as she was endearingly known, lived long into Mark’s adulthood and was always a central loving focus in his life.

Mark attended both Asbury Park High School and The Claremont Academy in Watkins Glen, New York where he graduated in 1960.

Mark attended Gettysburg College and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. This is where he first met his wife, Elizabeth Knoll. Mark and Liz, as he nicknamed her, were just passing friends at Gettysburg. They crossed paths again at Temple University where they both attended graduate school. When reunited at Temple University they made a plan to travel to Gettysburg’s Homecoming together. Mark and Liz made the trip with each other and said they never spent another day apart thereafter. It was the beginning of the loving relationship and family that they would share for many years to come.  Mark completed his education at Temple University with a Doctorate Degree in Psychology.

Mark and Liz were married on March 18, 1967 and had two daughters, Alice and Ellen. They raised their family in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.

While Mark had a private psychology practice of his own, he was employed as a psychologist by The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for 30 years. He was the Director of The Vet Center, an outpatient and community based mental health clinic, in Wilmington, DE. The core of Mark’s work was in the counseling of veterans who were experiencing PSTD.  It is here that Mark truly lived his calling. He was very passionate about his profession and was wholeheartedly dedicated to his clients. In an effort to better serve his veteran clients and their families, Mark always challenged himself to grow, study, and learn new therapies. Mark commuted from Philadelphia to his Wilmington office for three decades and never complained about the drive due to his commitment and service to our veterans. Mark retired earlier from his job than planned as he began battling what he knew was an incurable disease, Parkinson’s.

Mark was also passionate about his church community, The Unitarian Society of Germantown.  He served there in many roles over the years, including Board President. This community led to a lifetime of friendships that Mark treasured.  Mark and Liz's dearest friends were from the USG and they remain their dear friends today.

Those that loved Mark will never stop hearing the sound of his laugh. His infectious belly laughter could fill a room. He loved nothing more than to hear and tell funny stories. He had a wonderful sense of humor and could always laugh at himself too, which was just one of his many exceptional qualities.

Mark was a very gentle, loving, and kind soul. He was always there to listen and to offer his empathetic support to his family and friends. He was a realist and always rendered practical advice. Everyone always felt better after talking to him. Mark was also generous, loyal, reliable, selfless, and quick to forgive. He loved people, never judged, and accepted everyone.

Mark loved baseball and wasn’t affected by his North Jersey upbringing. He was a Philadelphia Phillies fan at heart. This was a joy he shared with his grandsons. Mark was so happy that he had the opportunity several years ago to enjoy a MLB Baseball Road Trip and Ballpark Tour with a dear friend.

Mark also enjoyed his annual Vermont trips with his guy friends (what happened in Vermont stayed in Vermont), holidays with his family, dinner parties, classical music, dates with Liz, and so much more. He was a true lover of life, friends and family.

Mark was a technology enthusiast. Always the owner of a current lap top, printer, label maker, iPad, iPhone, Alexa, Smart TV, and Rokuh, to name a few. He strived to efficiently incorporate these mechanics into his personal life and it was like a symphony of automation when he had everything up and running. Mark loved to learn and talk about applied science, but resisted the concept of a paperless society and still utilized his adding machine providing a printed receipt for each entry, especially at tax time.

Mark never refused chocolate or nuts. He enjoyed chocolate chip cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate ice cream.  A fancy container of cashews always made the perfect gift.

After retirement Mark and Liz moved to Dunwoody Village in Newtown Square, PA where they made many new friends and connections. Mark made friends everywhere he went and was quick to build new strong bonds there. This move allowed them to be closer geographically to their children and grandchildren.

Mark, also known as Pop Pop, had five grandchildren.  Mark loved spending time with them and he always made them laugh. Pop Pop never missed an opportunity to attend a dance recital, theatrical production, little league game, or any chance to spend precious time.  Mark’s unquestionable love and devotion as a parent and grandparent was the backbone of his family and he has left behind many cherished memories of times together. His family will terribly miss his nurturing way and care.

Mark also shared a very close relationship with his sister and brother-in-law, Susan and John, who live in Memphis, Tennessee. They spoke daily on the phone and saw one another as often as they could.  Susan was a best friend and confidant to Mark and she was an especially great support to him in his final years.

To say Mark was a devoted husband would be an understatement. He and Liz shared 53 wonderful years of marriage. They were a perfect match in every way and you rarely saw one without the other.

Mark was one in a million.  He would want us to remember him with a smile, to let go, relax, and have fun.  Mark’s spirit will remain in our hearts forever.

Mark is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his daughter and husband Alice and Michael Walsh and grandchildren Emily (18), Jack (7), and William (4), his daughter and husband Ellen and Henry Blanck and grandchildren Ellie (15) and Alexander (10), his sister and her husband Susan and John Peterson, his adoring cousins, and many great friends.

Donations in Mark’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research:

https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate