Mark Lang Reisman, 75, passed away surrounded by family in Napa, California on May 30 after a battle with cancer. A multi-talented man, Mark had an incredible sense of humor and a quick wit that could surprise anyone. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Mark became independent at a very young age, setting him on a path of self-reliance, exploration, and service to those who experience adversity. After completing his Master's degree in counseling psychology at Penn State University, Mark rode his motorcycle across the country to Oakland, California. He felt a connection and never left - he developed a career in community mental health and explored San Francisco, learning from the chefs of late-night restaurants. In 1981 he met his wife Barbara while both were working at a mental health treatment center in San Francisco's Tenderloin district - he famously came to her aid when she was threatened by an intruder. The two were married in 1986 and went on to have two wonderful children. Mark was a loving and devoted father - he grew magnificent gardens for his children to explore and cultivated annual family trips to Yosemite National Park, whose waterfalls and boulders became central fixtures in the family's life. Meanwhile, Mark grew his career in mental health and substance abuse treatment, serving in leadership roles at Napa County and later working in private practice and as a facilitator of group therapy. An intuitive and curious learner, over the years Mark developed deep expertise in kendo martial arts, tomato farming, and classic sports cars and motorcycles. Mark was an exceptional home cook with a wide, cross-cultural repertoire - he iterated endlessly on his favorite dishes and established culinary traditions now deeply rooted across generations of family. Mark was strong in his values and opinions - unafraid of candor, he was also nonjudgemental and warm, and saw all human beings as equals. At home, he was content with a cat on his lap and always ready with a bad pun and a funny face. Equal parts spiritual and irreverent, he was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He is survived by his wife Barbara, children Leah and Sam and their spouses Tom and Claire, sister Sara and brother-in-law Marty, adored granddaughter Frances and loving nieces and nephews. He will be remembered in the complex flavor of summer tomatoes and the glint of obsidian, collected from the hills around his house.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark's honor can be made to the Yosemite Conservancy <https://yosemite.org/giving/> or to Alternatives for Better Living, via check (mailed to 68 Coombs Street Suite C1, Napa CA 94559) or Venmo, @AlternativesforBetterLiving.