Mark Alexander Callanan was born August 25, 1987 in Rochester, NY and died at the too young age of 28 on June 7, 2016 in Washington, DC.  In life, Mark was a giant – in size and in heart.  He filled the rooms he entered with his larger-than-life personality and his deep, contagious laughter.  At Mark’s inturnment at Arlington National Cemetery, a close family friend and presiding minister described Mark as a “warrior with the heart of a poet.”  His love of politics, history, and brotherhood drew others to him and shaped bonds of friendship and love that remain even in his absence. Though his death has left a void that will never be filled, we remember how Mark made us laugh, feel, cry, think, question and become better for having known and loved him.

In honor and remembrance of Mark and the impact he had on those he touched, a 5K memorial run was organized in his name.  A 5K walk/run was held in 2018 and 2019. For information on the outcome of these events we invite you to visit both the ‘Scholarship’ and ‘2018/2019 Thanks’ pages.