Marcus was the little kid who made us remove spiders from our house rather than kill them, and who protected his little sister at the top of the playground slide.  He loved animals, especially his many cats.  He liked to draw fierce dragons, build with blocks, and make sand castles on the beach.  He later became adept at chess, and played classical piano. 

In high school, he was the procrastinating student who somehow always managed to pull out the A grade.  He loved mountain biking and rode for Redwood High School, Whole Athlete, and Bear Development.  With the help of great coaches, teammates, and personal determination, Marcus won the U.S. National Cross-Country Championship in Idaho in 2012.  He later raced with the USA Junior National Team in Belgium and Germany. 

Marcus earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with honors from the University of Michigan, and a minor in Economics.  He was a fraternity member and a research assistant for a professor developing protocols to optimize the diagnosis of prostate cancer.  Marcus played electric guitar and sang with a band, and wrote many songs.  He had an interest in improvisational comedy. 

Marcus was a loving brother, son, nephew and grandson.  A loyal friend.  He was honest, thoughtful, curious, and kind.  A great listener.  A bit quirky and silly, with a good sense of humor and a healthy laugh.  He asked the most perceptive questions, and enjoyed in-depth conversations on almost any subject.  Although he didn’t always show it, he had a sensitive soul. 

Marcus was most at home in nature.   He loved the ocean, and became proficient at body surfing and bodyboarding.  Mount Tamalpais was both a playground and refuge, and he loved hiking and biking its many trails with his friends. 

May you rest in peace Marcus.  You had a full life.  Thank you for all the memories.  We love you and will keep you in our hearts forever.