Mark O'Dowd Mandeville, 52, passed away peacefully at home Saturday, October 2, 2010. He lived passionately and courageously for over three years following his diagnosis with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in August of 2007. He was a loving husband and father, brother, son, uncle, and to everyone he knew he was an ardent friend. Mark made friends easily and kept them forever. He lived a wide life. He faced his illness with a warrior's courage and amazing grace. Mark left an inspiring road map for living life to the fullest.

Mark felt extraordinarily blessed and spent his life giving back to the people and places that shaped him. A parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church for most of his life, he co-founded and emceed the Christ the King Men's Cigar Dinner, an annual sold-out event that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his church. Mark served on the Marquette school board and coached nearly every sport his four daughters played. In addition, he and his brother, Pat, coached nearly a generation of Kelley Junior Comet football players. Mark's father, Jack, taught him to work hard and also taught him to play the two games he played all his life, golf and tennis. Mark was a passionate golfer and tennis player and he served tirelessly on the Tulsa Tennis Club Board of Directors. He was a long time member of the Downtown Tulsa Rotary, serving last as the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mark was born to Jack and Patsy Mandeville in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 5, 1958. He attended elementary at Marquette School where he began collecting many of the great friends he would keep his whole life. He was a 1976 graduate of Bishop Kelley High School, attended Oklahoma University and in 1980 graduated from of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Finance. While at Oklahoma State he was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity. Following graduation, Mark became a sales associate with Rich and Cartmill, Inc. He obtained the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1982 and the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1986. In 1994, he became a vice-president and was later made the Chief Financial Officer for Rich and Cartmill. For years, he taught classes for insurance professionals seeking the CPCU designation, as well as classes for continuing education and Junior Achievement. He was a natural teacher and his classes were always informative and entertaining. His life was rich with the many friends he made and kept along the way.

Mark had an enthusiasm for life and was genuinely interested in others. He made friends wherever he went. He always remembered their names and their stories. He could work a room like a candidate running for office with a pat on the back here, a wink there, a handshake or a hug. Mark had a gift for being present always, fully in the moment and he is surely a main character in the some of the best memories of everyone he knew.

Mark loved his family. He married Melanie Marsh on May 18, 1985. She was his wife, friend and partner for 25 years and later, in his illness, a patient caregiver and nurse to him. They were blessed with four beautiful daughters whom Mark adored, Mallory Leigh, Mary Elizabeth, Molly Kathryn and Madeline Ann. In addition to his wife and daughters, he is survived by his parents, Jack and Patsy Mandeville; his brother Patrick Mandeville and wife Jeanne; his sister Carey Cole and husband Mike; his mother and father-in-law Tom and Joyce Marsh; brother-in-law David Marsh and wife Marla; nieces Kara Mandeville McIntyre (Dave), Nedda Mandeville, Hannah and Margaret Cole, Haley Cole Lewis (James L.), Hannah and Abby DeClerk; and his nephews Michael Mandeville and Sam DeClerk.

In a speech Mark wrote when he co-chaired the 2008 Muscular Dystrophy Association/ ALS Hunt for a Cure fundraiser he reflected, "I am humbled by the many friendships I have accumulated over my life. I am so rich because of you, my friends." His illness was made easier by the love and support of those friends who shared time with him when he was no longer able get about and the many who provided meals and support for his family.

A Prayer Service will be 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 7, 2010, and a Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 8, 2010. Both services will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1520 S Rockford, Tulsa, OK.

An education fund has been set up for the family and memorials may be directed to Parish of Christ the King/Mandeville Scholarship Fund, 1520 S Rockford, Tulsa, OK 74120, or to MDA/ ALS Research in care of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 3015 E Skelly Dr, #221, Tulsa, OK 74105.