I will always treasure my memories and friendship with Mark, a dear and great friend and the very best dentist!  I look forward to our heavenly reunion with you and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Like others in my extended family, I came to know and love Mark Burgett through the very special friendship he forged with our sister Esther.
All who got to know him, discovered that Mark  was a kind and thoughtful man with a keen, inquisitive mind.  He wanted to know and understand what happened in the world, both historically and contemporarily, and then explore, analyze, and discuss at length the complex reasons behind those events.  Mark’s interests were deep and wide-ranging.  In his search for truth and understanding, Mark found and followed Jesus.
Mark was deft with his hands and practiced his chosen profession with gentle skill and painstaking diligence.  He was personally and professionally accommodating, ever willing to extend a caring hand to friends and family, whenever we were in need of his services.  Mark was ever compassionate and generous.
Mark’s departure from this life leaves us all poorer and sadder.  In our loss, it is comforting to remember his faithful life and to envision the welcome he has received in his heavenly home.

Lois Wallace Svalya
Friend

Mark was introduced to our family when he was a young man at San Diego State University. We met him through our family member, Esther Wallace who was also a student there. Mark was a loyal, thoughtful, and kind friend to Esther and quickly became a trusted friend to the whole Wallace family. He was not only the family dentist, but also a welcomed friend to many Thanksgiving celebrations and other Wallace family gatherings. Mark's deep friendship extended throughout the family's generations. His kindness, compassion and faithfulness will be sorely missed. We know Mark is at peace with God forever. We are grateful for having had the gift of his friendship, skill, and life. We look forward to seeing in again in Heaven!
This was dictated in love by Beth Wallace Baker (age 95)

Mark, daughter, Megan, and son-in-law, Rob, at her 2017 wedding

Mark and daughter Megan, at her 2017 wedding

Mark and daughter, Megan, Thanksgiving 2020

Mark Burgett was a dear friend and fellow docent at the SD Natural History Museum.  He was one of the kindest men I ever met. He had a deep faith in God and treated everyone as a valued child of God.
  Although he had many health issues, he always asked about our family members and took interest in their health and well being. He pushed himself to come to our regular docent gatherings and contributed to thoughtful and enlightening discussions. He also was a delight to young visitors at the museum providing amazing information about the similarities in Mammoth tusks, whale baleen, and human teeth.  The young visitors listened in awe.
   We will truly miss his mild and calm approach to life.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter, Megan, and her family.  He talked about them often.

With deepest sympathy, 
Susan Linn

Life, like a book, seems to come in chapters. I became acquainted with Mark in one of his later chapters, titled “Volunteer.”. He decided to volunteer at the San Diego Natural History Museum (NAT).  He faced serious medical problems at the beginning of this period, requiring him to interrupt docent training for heart surgery.  But when he was able, he resumed his studies and was welcomed to the Wednesday In-Museum team. What an asset he was!  Who better than a long practicing dentist to greet visitors to The Fossil Mysteries Exhibit at the NAT with a cart loaded with teeth of long-extinct creatures? He was a real draw to visitors of all ages – from preschool through adults. He displayed tooth fossils of a mammoth and mastodon, of the ever-popular T-Rex, of megaladon, the sabertooth and many more. What a treat for guests to be able to touch the fossils and hear from Mark how the structure of the teeth served each species throughout its life.
The next chapter is the “Covid” chapter. While all docent activities at the NAT ceased for almost two years, the Wednesday team decided to get together every other week. We met in Balboa Park in the patio area of The Old Globe Theatre. Every one of us was masked and we always maintained social distance. This did not prevent lively conversation. These get-togethers were important to us all. It gave us a chance to get to know each other better. Mark never missed a gathering and never missed telling us how important they were to him. 
The museum reopened. We began to give tours again and Mark returned to his tooth cart. He rarely missed a Wednesday. We continued our gatherings over coffee each Wednesday after our tours. Mark joined us until his final week.  He will be missed by each of us. He was an important part of our team. 
It was a pleasure to have gotten to know him during his time at the museum. His kindness, graciousness, dedication, and unwavering desire to continue to get out and make a difference are remarkable.

Although I knew Mark for only three years, I feel blessed to have had many wonderful conversations with him.   He often described past professional experiences that were very interesting, especially his pro bono work with indigenous peoples.  He relieved the suffering of many with no recompense other than his personal satisfaction. 
Mark had a precise and analytic mind that retained detailed information about his profession.  He was an informed observer of the current trends in dentistry and often remarked that he was concerned it was losing touch with the humanity of relieving suffering. He feared it was becoming solely focused on the profit motive. 
Mark had a spiritual side that was deep and profound, as shown by his many and perceptive reflections on biblical teachings. He manifested his Christianity with a tender and loving heart toward others.  His kindness exemplified what it is to be a Christian. 
I regret that I did not know Mark for a longer time. I am sure we could have become close friends. I know  he is now embraced in the arms of a loving God. He will be missed by all.

OBITUARY

Mark William Burgett

June 11, 1946 – March 19, 2024

Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary

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