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Memories & Candles

“Jean and I have been friends for almost 30 years. I would like to share my first memory of Mark was at the University of Michigan. I was considering...Read More »
1 of 8 | Posted by: Janet Laidler - Las Vegas, NV

“Whenever I think of Mark, I will always think of a very kind and caring person who along with the rest of his family took wonderful and loving care...Read More »
2 of 8 | Posted by: John Quantrille

“I was not fortunate enough to really get to know Mark. Jean and I were co-workers and they attended my birthday party one year. He left me with an...Read More »
3 of 8 | Posted by: Paul Gregory

“To Mark's Daughters, There are not words to express my sympathy on the loss of your father so early in your lives. He was one of my best friends...Read More »
4 of 8 | Posted by: barbara hicks - clawson, MI

“To Mark's Daughters, There are not words to express my sympathy on the loss of your father so early in your lives. He was one of my best...Read More »
5 of 8 | Posted by: barbara hicks - clawson, MI

“I was not fortunate enough to really get to know Mark. Jean and I were co-workers and they attended my birthday party one year. He left me with an...Read More »
6 of 8 | Posted by: Paul Gregory

“Whenever I think of Mark, I will always think of a very kind and caring person who along with the rest of his family took wonderful and loving care...Read More »
7 of 8 | Posted by: John Quantrille - Friend

“Jean and I have been friends for almost 30 years. I would like to share my first memory of Mark was at the University of Michigan. I was...Read More »
8 of 8 | Posted by: Janet Laidler - Las Vegas, NV


Mark Martin McGinnis was born April 15th, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan. Mark graduated from Groves High School in Birmingham, Michigan and attended college at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. At age of 20, he became the youngest instructor in Electron Microscopy at the U of M. Mark also worked as a biochemist in the U of M Medical School’s Hypertension Lab for ten years. In 1986, Mark married Jean Craig, and moved to Milan, Michigan. In 1988, their first child, Jazz, was born and they moved out to San Jose, California. There Mark began his career in computers, working as a network technician and computer programmer for several venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Their second child, Wendy, was born in Fremont, CA in 1990. In 1996, Mark packed up his family and moved to Portland, Oregon. There he worked as a database architect and computer consultant for various companies. Mark developed a warehouse-to-customer order entry computer program, used at Direct Avenue,a small distribution company he started with his business partners, Bill Edlefsen and Don Conradt. He was a foster father to Ashley Campbell, who came to live with the family in 2004. Mark was President of the Columbia River Newfoundland Club for one year. His favorite times were trips to a sunny beach,, either on Sanibel Island or Kauai. Mark was an avid book reader, often polishing off a book a night. Education for the kids was his highest priority, and he was proud that all three are college educated. Mark died on November 1, 2010 of colon cancer. He is survived: by his wife, Jean McGinnis; his three children, Jazz McGinnis, Wendy McGinnis and Ashley Cambell; his mother, Joyce McGinnis; and his seven siblings, Barry McGinnis, Diane McGinnis, Karen McGinnis, Joye McGinnis, Patrick McGinnis, Kim McGinnis, and Kent McGinnis. A private memorial will be held at the home of Joyce McGinnis on November 14th. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to: www.caringbridge.org/donate.