Lasting Memories

Mark S Dietz
May 24, 1957-Dec. 25, 2019
Ridgefield, WA

It is with great sadness that the family of Mark Dietz announce his unexpected passing on December 25, 2019.

The second son in a family of four children, Mark grew up in Camp Hill, PA. Mark excelled in high school, both academically and athletically, and in the family tradition, attended Pennsylvania State University. Mark moved west when he came to Stanford University, obtaining a Masters of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. After graduation, Mark worked for Ford Aerospace in Palo Alto, but soon moved on to new opportunities at Lockheed in Sunnyvale.

At Lockheed Martin, Mark had a 26-year career in aerospace, focused specifically on classified satellites for the U.S. government. He began his career at Lockheed Martin as a propulsion engineer. He rose up through various positions until he was leading classified satellite development programs. By 1999, Mark’s engineering, problem solving and leadership skills had gained him the reputation that led to executive leadership asking him to assist on the USAF SBIRS missile defense program; he led the team that developed a much-needed redesign of that satellite system. From 2002 until his retirement in 2011, Mark led the development of the next generation of classified satellite systems. Mark’s impact at Lockheed Martin went beyond the technical aspects. He mentored many engineers throughout his career and led by example. Today, many Lockheed Martin leaders acknowledge Mark’s leadership skills as their model for success. Throughout his life, Mark always supported others in achieving their next life adventure, by sharing his expertise as a mentor and coach, providing a home for family and friends, helping those in his community.

Mark married Carey Holubar of Menlo Park, CA, in 1988; they made their home in Mountain View and there raised their two sons, Andrew and Noah. Mark coached his sons’ teams in YMCA basketball league, spent weekends at a family cabin fishing, attending Stanford sporting events, taking numerous trips to Hawaii and visits to family in PA. In retirement, Mark enjoyed volunteering for Road Runners, a transportation service provided by El Camino Hospital Auxiliary that offers rides for community members & participating as a volunteer for Neighbors on Watch. Some bucket list travel included experiencing a typhoon in Taiwan, several trips to explore Europe, driving his nephew’s car from Stanford to Duke & retracing his grandfather’s WW1 service, which included a visit to the battlefield in Eastern France where he was wounded.

Since 2017, Mark and Carey spent most of their time in a new home in Ridgefield, WA, across the river from Portland, OR. They enjoyed getting to know their new community, walking their dogs, and hosting many traveling family and friends.

Mark is survived by his wife, Carey, and sons Andrew and Noah; by his parents, Donald and Ruth Dietz of Camp Hill, PA; his siblings and their spouses, Donald and Elsie Dietz of Clifton, VA, David and Teresa Dietz of Dunwoody, GA, and Lynn and Grant Marshall of Campbell, CA and a myriad of extended family and friends who loved and admired him and remain deeply grieved by his unexpected passing.