Charlie and I met Mark and Katya when our husbands volunteered for the Mount Snow’s ski patrol. We would often ski, sit by the fire after lunch, and have amazing dinners. At our homes. Katya cooked Russian food and I cooked Haitian food. My fondest memories are the sleigh rides with those thick blankets during Christmas and the wonderful holiday meals.
Mark had a big smile, great laugh, and was such a character. Members of the ski patrol always joked that he was a Russian spy. He would laugh but never denied it. When we had children our activities included the kids and Mark was the biggest kid in the room! We purchased a home in Vermont because Mark alerted me that there was a foreclosure available. It was such a find! It allowed us to spend more time in Vermont as we renovated the house. Mark was bigger than life and a wonderful friend. He will be sorely missed.