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Grenadian Joachim K. Mark dies PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 30 June 2009


Joachim K. Mark, of Brooklyn, New York died Friday, June 26, 2009 in Brookdale Medical Center after a long fight against prostate cancer.
 
Born in St. Andrew’s, Grenada, August 16, 1933, to Dr. and Mrs. Michael Z. Mark, “Sonny” as he was affectionately called by everyone was an excellent student at the Birch Grove Government School, the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School and The Grenada Boys Secondary School. He transferred to the St. Andrew’s Teacher Training Center in 1949 where he attained, in consecutive order, the Cambridge University Junior Certificate, the Cambridge University School Certificate, and the Grenada Education Department’s Second Class Teacher’s Certificate. Joachim also exhibited leadership qualities at young age. From 1948, at 14 years old to 1958, he was the Birch Grove Boy’s Scout Troop Scoutmaster. He was Commanding Officer of the Birch Grove Boy’s Brigade. He was also a military drill instructor in the Grenada Volunteer Constabulary (GVC), A Branch of the Royal Grenada Police Force. Joachim K. Mark, of Brooklyn, New York died Friday, June 26, 2009 in Brookdale Medical Center after a long fight against prostate cancer.
 
Born in St. Andrew’s, Grenada, August 16, 1933, to Dr. and Mrs. Michael Z. Mark, “Sonny” as he was affectionately called by everyone was an excellent student at the Birch Grove Government School, the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School and The Grenada Boys Secondary School. He transferred to the St. Andrew’s Teacher Training Center in 1949 where he attained, in consecutive order, the Cambridge University Junior Certificate, the Cambridge University School Certificate, and the Grenada Education Department’s Second Class Teacher’s Certificate. Joachim also exhibited leadership qualities at young age. From 1948, at 14 years old to 1958, he was the Birch Grove Boy’s Scout Troop Scoutmaster. He was Commanding Officer of the Birch Grove Boy’s Brigade. He was also a military drill instructor in the Grenada Volunteer Constabulary (GVC), A Branch of the Royal Grenada Police Force.
 
Mr. Mark also was an exemplary educator. In 1954, Joachim received the First Class Teacher’s Certificate. He then served as Assistant Principal at the St. Patrick’s and Birch Grove Roman Catholic Schools where his students loved and admired him for ability to motivate them to academic success despite whatever economic and social barriers that may have been in the way. Teacher Mark instilled in his students of sense of self worth and ultimately pride.
Mr. Mark decided to further his education by migrating to the United States in 1958 to attend Howard University in Washington, DC. Although he could have gone to England and attend Cambridge University Joachim chose Howard at the behest of his father who was the Inspector of Schools in Grenada because he believed strongly in the American College Educational system. Throughout his academic college career at Howard he was on the Dean’s List (Honor Roll). Mr. Mark attained this through economic hardship, working several odd jobs and enduring through the upheaval of the tumultuous time of the American Civil Rights Movement.  In 1962, Joachim received the Junior Faculty Award, and was nominated to the National Engineering Society – Tau Beta Pi. He was the first Grenadian thus honored. He was also honored for being among the top one-fifth of the engineering students in the United States. He was also awarded the Certificate of Merit from the Civil Engineering Student’s Chapter, the American Chapter of The American Society of Engineers. Around the time Joachim married a Grenadian, Bernice Joseph, RN of River Sallee, St. Patrick’s.  In 1963, Mr. Mark graduated at the top of the class, and was named “Graduating Senior”, and given the graduating senior award.
 
Joachim and Bernice then moved to New York City in 1963. Sonny got his first engineer job working for Andrews and Clarke Engineering Consultants on what would become the construction of the largest single span bridge in the world, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge/Staten Island Bridge. He then in 1966 got a position as a civil engineer with the New York Department of Highways where he worked until December, 1998. Promoted to Resident Engineer and ultimately Project Engineer, “Joe” as his colleagues referred to him designed, directed, and supervised the capital improvements of miles of streets in Brooklyn (such as Linden Blvd, Kings Hwy, etc.) and resurfaced and additional 460 miles. His work performance earned him seven letters of recommendation for “Merit Salary Increases.” In June, 1998, Second Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction, Dr. Michael F. Horodniceau sent a “Recognition of Long and Dedicated Service Award” letter to Mr. Mark and he was bestowed the City Employee Recognition Award.
 
From the mid-1960’s until his death Mr. Mark participated in a multitude of political, social and cultural activities, He was a member and one-time president of the United Grenadians of New York (UGNY) which was very instrumental in tens of thousands of dollars in funds and educating Grenadians all over to fight for civil rights in Grenada and for a better, progressive, Grenadian government throughout the 1970’s. Mr. Mark was also a member or held board positions in the Committer for a Better Grenada, the Grenada Ex-Police Association of New York, Inc., the Grenadian-American Ex-Students Association, Inc., the Grenada, Carriacou, Petit Martinique Nurses Association of America, the Birch Grove – New York Community Council and the Birch Grove Prayer Group, and headed the Grenada Independence Celebrations Committee from 1993 and 1995.
Joachim was also a historian whose knowledge based on fact was astounding to all those who encountered. Some have suggested it is photographic memory for he had the ability to recall exact time and dates of historic events of all types and to recount the circumstance and ultimately the significance of the event. Because of that ability he would forecast what would happen (such as him predicted the Iraq War and other invasion. He also had complete control of the English language that made him a fine orator. He was also known for his sense of humor and storytelling. His “gift” made him a hot ticket in the college lecture circuit where he spoke at institutions such as Harvard University, Brooklyn College, Pace University, to name a few. He was a regular guest on talk-radio stations such as WLIB-AM, and WBAI-FM (both in New York).
 
Mr. Mark’s ultimately will be remembered for his public service to Grenadians in this fact. He arranged for the entry of 422 Grenadians to the United States in a 40 plus year period. Most of these individuals at one time or another lived at the Mark residence, free room and board, while they became acclimated to America. Several he paid for their education or training even though he was not rich by any means. Many he co-signed on bank loans. Several of the entrants were given partial or full scholarships. It is in large part because of his generosity that Grenadians in American and elsewhere have thrived and become productive citizens.
 
Also, “Sonny” was a devout Christian who would lead and conduct large non-denomination song & prayer meetings in the basement of his home to try to satisfy the spiritual thirsts of all those who attended  
 
In 1998, Joachim was diagnosed will prostate cancer and made it his mission to find way to prevent and fight cancer. He became a speaker for the American Cancer Society.
 
While in his hospital bed on Monday, June 22, 2009 the Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas presented Mr. Mark a Letter of Recommendation to be presented the insignia of the Spice Isle Award in honor of Joachim’s patriotism and love for Grenada.  
 
Joachim K. Mark live a full life and he spirit endures.
 
Joachim is survived by his wife of 47 years, their 2 children Kervyn and Robin, and 2 grandchildren, Morgan and Averie.
 
 
The viewing will be held at July 2, 2009, 4pm – 9pm, in Terragrossa Andrew and Sons Funeral Home, 2265 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY and the Funeral will be on July 3, 2009, 9:30am at St. Fortunata RC Church, 2609 Linden Blvd, Brooklyn, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
 
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