Mark Mitchell Silzer

Mark was born on April 9, 1947, to Richard and Jennie Silzer in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Blue Island, Illinois with his siblings Peter and Jane. As a youth, Mark participated in Boy Scouts (attaining the level of Eagle Scout), worked as a lifeguard, sang in school choirs and musicals, and played basketball.

Mark met his wife Barbara Luke while attending Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois where he attained a bachelor’s degree in Education. Mark and Barbara participated in their university’s Kapella choir in college which culminated in a world tour their senior year.

Mark’s education also included a master’s degree in Instructional Media from Northern Illinois University and a PhD from the University of Illinois in Education Administration.

Mark’s career was focused on education and included serving as a teacher, Director of Instructional Media and Middle School Principal at the International School in Hong Kong; starting a new Lutheran High School in Phoenix, Arizona and serving as its first Principal and Director; serving as Principal of Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Honolulu, Hawaii; serving as Principal of Carden West School in Pleasanton, California and working for several different software companies including Jostens Learning Corporation, Education Systems Corporation, Edison Project and Sun Microsystems while living in Pleasanton, Danville and Roseville, California.

Mark’s biggest joys came from his family - his wife Barbara, his daughters Stephanie, Alison and Ashley; their husbands; and his 10 grandchildren (Luke, Grace, Ava, Kai, Samira, Leilani, Marissa, Melina, Robby and Ryan). Music was always a huge part of Mark’s life – he had a beautiful tenor voice and sang often with his family both at home and at church. He died surrounded by his family holding his hands and singing his favorite hymns to him.

Mark will be honored in a Celebration of Life service on Friday, January 12th at St Matthew Lutheran Church, 3785 Placer Corporate Dr, Rocklin, CA 95765. The service will begin at 10:30 am with a viewing starting at 10:00 am and a lunch reception to follow the service in the church hall. Burial will be at Roseville Cemetery after the lunch reception.

Mark is survived by his wife, Barbara Silzer, of Roseville, CA; daughter Stephanie Sloan and her husband Carl of Rocklin, CA; daughter Alison Goradia and her husband Neil of Bethesda, Maryland; daughter Ashley Silzer-Sanchez and her husband Robert of Antelope, California; his 10 grandchildren; his brother Peter Silzer and wife Sheryl of Mt. Vernon, Washington; his sister Jane Silzer and husband Bill Thatcher of Seattle, Washington; as well as other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Donations in Mark’s name can be made to St. Matthew Lutheran Church (address above) or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson's research.