Mark Albert Genera, World War II veteran, educator, coach, husband, father, and friend, passed away on December 21, 2007. He was born in El Paso, Texas on October 22, 1918. A man of great energy and determination, Mark lived on his own from the age of 13, completing his high school education in Littleton, Colorado and earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Denver in 1941. He later went on to earn a master's and educational specialist degree from New Mexico State University.
During World War II, Mark saw duty in the South Pacific as an officer in the United States Navy. After his release from active duty in 1946, he served an additional 21 years in the Naval Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Mark Genera's marriage to Katherine Frances Brook began in 1944 and lasted until Kate's death in 1993. Their two children, Martha Brook Lewis and Mark Randolph Genera, followed their father's footsteps by becoming teachers.
Mark devoted 44 years of his life to the field of education as a teacher, coach, administrator, and counselor. He taught physical education and Spanish courses at Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A lifelong athlete in his own right, Mark also coached football, basketball, and baseball at Las Cruces High, leading his varsity baseball team to victory as New Mexico state champions in 1952 and 1957. After moving his family to California in 1957, Mark taught at Sierra High School in Whittier, then served as the Dean of Students at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs. In 1965, he became the first principal of Bassett High School in La Puente, taking on the responsibility for organizing every aspect of a newly constructed high school. Mark moved to Rio Hondo College in 1970, where he served in a variety of capacities including Director of Financial Aid and Placement, Director of Student Activities, Spanish teacher, and guidance counselor. Mark retired in 1986 !
but continued his association with Rio Hondo College as a part-time counselor. In 1996, Mark married Wilma Woodruff.
Over the span of his life, Mark Genera compiled a distinguished record of accomplishment, overcoming many obstacles and hardships that would have defeated a lesser man. He drew immense satisfaction from his family, his colleagues, and the countless students he influenced with his vitality, optimism, and generosity. He was a member of the generation that is now called "the Greatest Generation," those individuals who endured the trials of the Great Depression, fought and won World War II, and transformed the United States into a nation of widespread opportunity and prosperity. In the eyes of his children, Mark Genera shall always remain a heroic figure.
Mark Genera is survived by his wife, Wilma; his daughter, Martha Brook Lewis, her husband, Eric, and their son, Kris; his son, Mark Randolph Genera and his wife, Lily Lee; his sisters Esther Clifford, Henrietta Wright, and Josephine Massey; his nephews Gene and Jim Baird; his nieces Deborah and Kika Brown; as well as many other nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will take place at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 518 Alameda Blvd, Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 3:00pm. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery.
During World War II, Mark saw duty in the South Pacific as an officer in the United States Navy. After his release from active duty in 1946, he served an additional 21 years in the Naval Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Mark Genera's marriage to Katherine Frances Brook began in 1944 and lasted until Kate's death in 1993. Their two children, Martha Brook Lewis and Mark Randolph Genera, followed their father's footsteps by becoming teachers.
Mark devoted 44 years of his life to the field of education as a teacher, coach, administrator, and counselor. He taught physical education and Spanish courses at Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A lifelong athlete in his own right, Mark also coached football, basketball, and baseball at Las Cruces High, leading his varsity baseball team to victory as New Mexico state champions in 1952 and 1957. After moving his family to California in 1957, Mark taught at Sierra High School in Whittier, then served as the Dean of Students at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs. In 1965, he became the first principal of Bassett High School in La Puente, taking on the responsibility for organizing every aspect of a newly constructed high school. Mark moved to Rio Hondo College in 1970, where he served in a variety of capacities including Director of Financial Aid and Placement, Director of Student Activities, Spanish teacher, and guidance counselor. Mark retired in 1986 !
but continued his association with Rio Hondo College as a part-time counselor. In 1996, Mark married Wilma Woodruff.
Over the span of his life, Mark Genera compiled a distinguished record of accomplishment, overcoming many obstacles and hardships that would have defeated a lesser man. He drew immense satisfaction from his family, his colleagues, and the countless students he influenced with his vitality, optimism, and generosity. He was a member of the generation that is now called "the Greatest Generation," those individuals who endured the trials of the Great Depression, fought and won World War II, and transformed the United States into a nation of widespread opportunity and prosperity. In the eyes of his children, Mark Genera shall always remain a heroic figure.
Mark Genera is survived by his wife, Wilma; his daughter, Martha Brook Lewis, her husband, Eric, and their son, Kris; his son, Mark Randolph Genera and his wife, Lily Lee; his sisters Esther Clifford, Henrietta Wright, and Josephine Massey; his nephews Gene and Jim Baird; his nieces Deborah and Kika Brown; as well as many other nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will take place at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 518 Alameda Blvd, Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 3:00pm. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery.
Mark Albert Genera, World War II veteran, educator, coach, husband, father, and friend, passed away on December 21, 2007. He was born in El Paso, Texas on October 22, 1918. A man of great energy and determination, Mark lived on his own from the age of 13, completing his high school education in Littleton, Colorado and earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Denver in 1941. He later went on to earn a master's and educational specialist degree from New Mexico State University.
During World War II, Mark saw duty in the South Pacific as an officer in the United States Navy. After his release from active duty in 1946, he served an additional 21 years in the Naval Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Mark Genera's marriage to Katherine Frances Brook began in 1944 and lasted until Kate's death in 1993. Their two children, Martha Brook Lewis and Mark Randolph Genera, followed their father's footsteps by becoming teachers.
Mark devoted 44 years of his life to the field of education as a teacher, coach, administrator, and counselor. He taught physical education and Spanish courses at Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A lifelong athlete in his own right, Mark also coached football, basketball, and baseball at Las Cruces High, leading his varsity baseball team to victory as New Mexico state champions in 1952 and 1957. After moving his family to California in 1957, Mark taught at Sierra High School in Whittier, then served as the Dean of Students at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs. In 1965, he became the first principal of Bassett High School in La Puente, taking on the responsibility for organizing every aspect of a newly constructed high school. Mark moved to Rio Hondo College in 1970, where he served in a variety of capacities including Director of Financial Aid and Placement, Director of Student Activities, Spanish teacher, and guidance counselor. Mark retired in 1986 !
but continued his association with Rio Hondo College as a part-time counselor. In 1996, Mark married Wilma Woodruff.
Over the span of his life, Mark Genera compiled a distinguished record of accomplishment, overcoming many obstacles and hardships that would have defeated a lesser man. He drew immense satisfaction from his family, his colleagues, and the countless students he influenced with his vitality, optimism, and generosity. He was a member of the generation that is now called "the Greatest Generation," those individuals who endured the trials of the Great Depression, fought and won World War II, and transformed the United States into a nation of widespread opportunity and prosperity. In the eyes of his children, Mark Genera shall always remain a heroic figure.
Mark Genera is survived by his wife, Wilma; his daughter, Martha Brook Lewis, her husband, Eric, and their son, Kris; his son, Mark Randolph Genera and his wife, Lily Lee; his sisters Esther Clifford, Henrietta Wright, and Josephine Massey; his nephews Gene and Jim Baird; his nieces Deborah and Kika Brown; as well as many other nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will take place at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 518 Alameda Blvd, Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 3:00pm. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery.
During World War II, Mark saw duty in the South Pacific as an officer in the United States Navy. After his release from active duty in 1946, he served an additional 21 years in the Naval Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Mark Genera's marriage to Katherine Frances Brook began in 1944 and lasted until Kate's death in 1993. Their two children, Martha Brook Lewis and Mark Randolph Genera, followed their father's footsteps by becoming teachers.
Mark devoted 44 years of his life to the field of education as a teacher, coach, administrator, and counselor. He taught physical education and Spanish courses at Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A lifelong athlete in his own right, Mark also coached football, basketball, and baseball at Las Cruces High, leading his varsity baseball team to victory as New Mexico state champions in 1952 and 1957. After moving his family to California in 1957, Mark taught at Sierra High School in Whittier, then served as the Dean of Students at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe Springs. In 1965, he became the first principal of Bassett High School in La Puente, taking on the responsibility for organizing every aspect of a newly constructed high school. Mark moved to Rio Hondo College in 1970, where he served in a variety of capacities including Director of Financial Aid and Placement, Director of Student Activities, Spanish teacher, and guidance counselor. Mark retired in 1986 !
but continued his association with Rio Hondo College as a part-time counselor. In 1996, Mark married Wilma Woodruff.
Over the span of his life, Mark Genera compiled a distinguished record of accomplishment, overcoming many obstacles and hardships that would have defeated a lesser man. He drew immense satisfaction from his family, his colleagues, and the countless students he influenced with his vitality, optimism, and generosity. He was a member of the generation that is now called "the Greatest Generation," those individuals who endured the trials of the Great Depression, fought and won World War II, and transformed the United States into a nation of widespread opportunity and prosperity. In the eyes of his children, Mark Genera shall always remain a heroic figure.
Mark Genera is survived by his wife, Wilma; his daughter, Martha Brook Lewis, her husband, Eric, and their son, Kris; his son, Mark Randolph Genera and his wife, Lily Lee; his sisters Esther Clifford, Henrietta Wright, and Josephine Massey; his nephews Gene and Jim Baird; his nieces Deborah and Kika Brown; as well as many other nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will take place at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 518 Alameda Blvd, Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 3:00pm. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
