Mark Rostenko was born in Michigan on August 1, 1966, the younger of two boys.  Mark was always a sensitive, brilliant young man, who excelled in school, partook in a wide range of activities including music, and as a member of Plast (Ukrainian Scouts) (and the Ukrainian-American community in Southeast Michigan.  Mark attended Detroit Country Day school, and his excellence in school precipitated his acceptance into University of Michigan, where he earned an B.A. in Psychology.

Following his graduation from University of Michigan, after passing the Series 7 exam,  Mark traded commodities on the Chicago exchange for years.  He started a newsletter which became a wildly popular source of information for investors, well before the internet.  Soon he was done with the “rat-race” and moved to Colorado to live closer to the wild nature.

Mark found respite in the mountains, taking up extreme hiking up, photography, and writing.  His love of animals extended throughout his life. His two dogs, Ali and Sami, were his constant companions for years. Mark’s was a long struggle with stuttering and to live the life that he wanted rather than the life he was taught that he should live.    As he overcame his fears and experienced personal breakthroughs, Mark decided to share his learnings in his book entitled  “Beyond limits: 21 Days to Personal Transformation” which includes a dynamic program that leaves people armed and inspired with the freedom and power to create the life they love.  Mark mentored and became friends with some of the people he helped.   

For years, Mark read three books a week, amassing tremendous knowledge, insights, and language, and with it, developed a profound writing skill.  Poetry.  Introspection. Lyrics.  His emotionally raw and poignant writings were posted and read on his blog and within some of his social media posts.

Mark returned back to his love of guitar and began writing songs.  And, with music and the people that surrounded him, Mark’s life long stutter largely went away.

The Town of Salida became enamored with Mark’s love of playing live music, and intrigued by his mountain man/rock star persona.  They watched Mark evolve from the stuttering busker to an eloquent entertainer.  His mocking references to himself as a rock star became a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Mark won the Lyric Contest Grand Prize in 2016 for his son “Billy (Off the Line)” which was  produced in Nashville into a song he sang and accompanied by guitar.  See https://americansongwriter.com/grand-prize-lyric-contest-winner-mark-rostenko-comes-to-nashville-records-a-demo-on-music-row-and-writes-with-mary-gauthier/

Mary Gauthier, said on her co-write with Mark:  “Mark Rostenko is the real deal, a true artist. He understands empathy and how the art of song is used to generate it. Writing with him was a great pleasure. The time I spent with Mark reminded me that songs are more than songs. They are what human emotion sounds like.”  Musician in Salida considered him a friend and an amazing musician and loved working with him. 

On a personal level, Mark was known for wicked wit, prankster humor and poet/philosopher sensibility.  Mark’s art reached beyond his mind and soul.  Once trained by Kung Fu masters, Marks also welded and worked with wood.  He created jewelry for himself and others, including the artistic, coveted bracelets you see him wearing playing guitar.

Mark has joined his parents, who predeceased him.  He is survived by a multitude of friends and family, and his brother George.   We will miss him forever.

“You know that place between sleep and awake; that place where you can still remember dreaming?  That’s where I will always love you.  That’s where I will be waiting.”