Mark Baban 1/12/60 - 1/30/12
Thank you Robert Doolittle for sharing this:
I had the privilege of attending the funeral service that Gina Richardson Baban, Maharlika (her daughter) and Zarek (her son) hosted for Mark today. I know many of you wanted to be here, and thought you might appreciate hearing a little about it….
In short, it was a very moving tribute by family, friends and coworkers for a man who clearly touched many lives. It was a standing-room-only gathering with friends from many different communities. Gina’s brother Jason served as master of ceremonies, and Maharlika and Zarek shared personal memories of their father. Mark’s two older brothers eulogized him, and one of Mark’s colleagues, from the Asian Association of Firefighters (which Mark helped found), attested to Mark’s leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for others. Every speaker noted how important Mark’s family was to him, how quick he was to smile and share his joy of life, and how committed he was to making a contribution to his community as a proud American. Mark was an accomplished bag piper, and there was a piper at the service to greet the gathering. The firefighting community turned out in large numbers to pay tribute. There were trucks with ladders extended 50-or-so feet in the air with an enormous American flag hanging over the entry to the cemetery. Several hundred firefighters were in attendance, and they lined the pathway from the funeral home to the gravesite at the end of the service. The funeral procession made its way slowly up a hill through this honor guard, which then surrounded the gravesite for a final tribute. As a veteran, Mark’s casket was draped with an American flag and after a bugler played “Taps,” an Air Force honor guard folded the flag and presented it to Gina.
I can’t imagine a nicer, more genuine tribute for any person. I hope it gave some comfort to Gina in this challenging time.
Robert
I had the privilege of attending the funeral service that Gina Richardson Baban, Maharlika (her daughter) and Zarek (her son) hosted for Mark today. I know many of you wanted to be here, and thought you might appreciate hearing a little about it….
In short, it was a very moving tribute by family, friends and coworkers for a man who clearly touched many lives. It was a standing-room-only gathering with friends from many different communities. Gina’s brother Jason served as master of ceremonies, and Maharlika and Zarek shared personal memories of their father. Mark’s two older brothers eulogized him, and one of Mark’s colleagues, from the Asian Association of Firefighters (which Mark helped found), attested to Mark’s leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for others. Every speaker noted how important Mark’s family was to him, how quick he was to smile and share his joy of life, and how committed he was to making a contribution to his community as a proud American. Mark was an accomplished bag piper, and there was a piper at the service to greet the gathering. The firefighting community turned out in large numbers to pay tribute. There were trucks with ladders extended 50-or-so feet in the air with an enormous American flag hanging over the entry to the cemetery. Several hundred firefighters were in attendance, and they lined the pathway from the funeral home to the gravesite at the end of the service. The funeral procession made its way slowly up a hill through this honor guard, which then surrounded the gravesite for a final tribute. As a veteran, Mark’s casket was draped with an American flag and after a bugler played “Taps,” an Air Force honor guard folded the flag and presented it to Gina.
I can’t imagine a nicer, more genuine tribute for any person. I hope it gave some comfort to Gina in this challenging time.
Robert
