Mark Ayoub death: Mark Ayoub obituary – what happened?
Mark Ayoub death: Mark Ayoub, the son of Gretchen Ayoub, brother of Corinne Marie and fiance of Angela Lee has tragically passed away.
At this moment, details about Mark Ayoub’s sudden and tragic death are not known. But one thing is sure – his passing has thrown his family and loved ones into shock and deep mourning.
Mark Ayoub death: Mark Ayoub obituary
Before Mark Ayoub death, Mark was an award flight booker at Miles4Migrants, pollster at Change Research, Former Associate Research Manager at Strategic Insight, Former Senior Research Analyst at Nielsen, Former associate analyst at Lake Research Partners, Former pastry assistant at Nopasf.
Mark lived in San Francisco, California, he was from Needham, Massachusetts.
Read touching tributes from friends and loved ones who adored Mark Ayoub. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
- From Greg Collins:
My heart dropped yesterday upon hearing of the sudden and tragic death of one of my closest childhood friends, Mark Ayoub.
Mark blessed others with his kind heart and jovial personality, not to mention with the clamorous sound of his distinctively boisterous laugh.
He was, without exaggeration, the least pretentious person I have ever known, exhibiting sincerity and empathy and humility with uncommon steadiness throughout his life. Mark loved the beauty and variety of life in its fullest dimensions.
As is well known, he was an unrivaled and intrepid globetrotter, seeking out exotic destinations near and far many of us would never dream of visiting. (One time I swear Mark and his lovely fiancée Angela Lee checked in at locations in three different continents on Facebook within a 24-hour time period.)
I noticed that the guiding theme weaving his travels together was an appreciation for the sublime essence of the natural world, as captured in the many pictures he took of mountains, rivers, and ecosystems. (Check out his Facebook photos.)
Mark’s interactions with nature revealed that he never lost sight of the mystery and grandeur of the earth in an age of rapid technological advancement. Mark’s voyages also showed that he held an abiding fascination with cultures spanning the globe.
I never joined Mark in his trips to foreign countries, but, as his Facebook photos suggest, it is clear he demonstrated a heightened level of respect and tolerance for the many peoples and customs he encountered throughout his journeys. And it is equally clear locals enjoyed the joyful presence of a 6’7’’ man willing to—nay, eager to—consume the village cuisine.
Although he is known for his travels, I remember Mark even more for the love and compassion he showed toward his family and friends.
Every year my family would visit his house for his family’s big Christmas Day celebration, which featured Syrian- and American-inspired meals cooked by Mark, his mother Gretchen Ayoub , and his sister Corinne Marie. The food burst with flavor, far more delectable than anything I have ever cooked.
Mark would also play with the many kids and toddlers at the feast, including my daughter (see the photo below), for hours on end. He would gently hold them in his lap and play songs for them on the piano on repeat, demonstrating an instinctual attachment to children overflowing with affection and warmth.
Mark’s family was also kind enough to host my family many times at their vacation home in Maine, where I first learned how to ride a water tube and water ski, albeit with embarrassingly limited success compared to Mark’s flair for water activities. Mark was indeed a global traveler, but he never once forgot his deep roots.
Mark was a true Renaissance man. He was an unapologetic politico, a fantastic cook, a devotee of Boston sports teams, and an exceptional pianist. With him I played many games of Scrabble, poured over innumerable sports statistics, and shot countless hoops in his driveway.
More important, our bond strengthened as we consistently guffawed over our sisters’ obsession with all things Spice Girls. (True story: they made us go see Spice World with them, which is still the worst movie I have ever watched.)
It is not hyperbole for me to say that Mark had a significant influence in shaping the development of my adolescent interests in sports, politics, and word games, interests that have endured to this day.
As we mourn his death, may we take comfort in his love of life and in the sweet care he displayed toward others. For Mark’s tender embrace of life and of people shows that tragedy need not extinguish the warmth of the heart, or the sacredness of the soul. May he rest in peace.
- Nicole Collins’ tribute:
My favorite grief poem, as I mentioned, is “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou. It’s especially fitting for Mark Ayoub’s sudden and tragic death, because Mark was a Great Tree in every sense. He was larger than life, both literally- 6’7”, size 16 shoes, often sported an Afro that added some extra height- and in spirit.
The highlights of every Christmas for the Ayoub family and friends were the ridiculously delicious Syrian food spread Mark spearheaded and the Christmas carols he’d pound out on the piano.
The “gentle giant,” his little nieces and nephews adored him. Everybody adored him.
Mark was my second brother whose progressive politics balanced out my first brother. Corinne and I would wake up early after sleepovers to fashion a “Rushin’ Restaurant,” where we’d create menus with breakfast options for Greg and Mark (conveniently, the only item that wasn’t “sold out” was the cereal in the pantry).
Mark was a prolific world traveler (he visited North Korea, people) and prolific Facebook poster, which made our more recent interactions tagging each other in various Clickhole and Onion articles (“Feminism win! This artist reimagined Mario as saying ‘It’s-a she, Susan B. Anthony!’”).
He was hilarious and had the jolliest laugh and a voice that reached the highest of pitches when he got excited, and was the only one brave enough to tell me that I was “totally embarrassing” at my brother’s wedding by imbibing too much (yes, I was).
He and the family, including his amazing fiancé Angela, visited me in South Dakota last summer, where it became obvious to everyone there that Mark and Angela were a match made in wanderlusting, “yes Mark I’ll forgive you even though you stomped on my foot” heaven. He was the best big brother to Corinne and a combination of the best qualities of Gretchen and Robert- fearless, gentle, charismatic, loving.
Mark was a Great Tree, and when great trees are ripped so suddenly and senselessly from us, there’s really no rhyme or reason, hence this rambling. I’m doing the same thing after Mr. Ayoub’s untimely death in 2005- screaming “why do terrible things happen to good people?”.