Written for High School Class Reunion Bio Book by JP

Mark Richard Voland passed away on January 13, 2010 from a heart attack. Friends and family have posted a blog spot to honor their love of his friendship. He is survived by his niece Hayley Voland. I'm JP Denyer, a former Grant HS alumnus (1971) and life long companion to Mark; we met in 1969 in the lunch courtyard and never lost touch. I truly miss him and know he was needed for better things.

More Photos (from JP)

Rehearsing for the Pirates play he did here in Ventura with the Half Measures Group

A few years back when our good friend Kandice Marshall graduated from CSUCI with her Bachelors; this was quiet a feat as she is a single mom with three children, we met her when Mark joined a Company and she was his training partner. We all became good friends and she also attended his memorial recently. The other person in the photo is my daughter Abby.

Tears Like Wine - An Elegy of Sorts

(For Ben, Mark, Mary Jane, Kathleen, and My Old Man)

midnight is bleak
the mountains barely visible
through the rain

and then I remember all those
who have departed but left behind
their wit and generosity of spirit

the wind filling the street
feels warmer and the rain streaming
down my face tastes like wine

Michael L. Newell (via JP)

Big Read

I was going through some stuff and found this book that Mark asked for me to read, it was his favorite book and he had given it to me as a gift so I could read it. When I began to read it I found I had to stop as I found it reflected so much of the Mark I knew in the main character, that I had to put the book down. Now that he has passed on, perhaps I can read it, but I thought others may get a joy from the book! (from JP)