Mark Shrum Pratt

Mark S. Pratt, age 95, of Washington, DC, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2023, after a remarkable life. He was born in Lynn, MA and raised in Salem, the son of Oliver Goodell and Merah Strum Pratt. After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy, he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific theater during WW II. He graduated from Brown University, also attending Harvard, the Sorbonne and the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. Mark served 35 years with the U.S. State Department, including postings in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Vientiane, Paris, and Taipei, as well as Washington DC, ending his career as US Consul General in Guangzhou, China. Upon retirement, he returned to Washington and remained active with foreign affairs and China-related organizations. Mark and his wife of 33 years, Dolores Rossi Pratt, who predeceased him in 2020, were known for their erudition and scholarship, facility in foreign languages, and support for local and national arts institutions, including the Studio Theater and Studio Acting Conservatory. Mark is survived by step-sons Peter and David Harris, and nieces and nephews Oliver (Terry) Pratt III, Candace Stiteler, Heather Larsen, Jonathan Pratt, Jennifer McCourt, Jeffrey Pratt, Merah Bousquet, Kristin Sahagian, Gregory Peabody, and grand-nieces and nephews, as well as many dear friends and colleagues. A memorial service for Mark and Dolores will be held in Washington at the Church of the Holy City, 1611 16th St. NW on October 8, 2023 at 2:00 PM.