I truly miss him. I feel that I missed the opportunity to learn from him and took his presence for granted. Seize the moments when you can. What a wasted opportunity. It was his own but he had a great sense of humor, very high level. If I made him laugh or smile I knew I'd accomplished something. So sad for him, his family, his shul, me and the world in general. I hope he'll be a Malitz Yosher for all of us. BDE
Ruth, while I did not know Mark, I know how tenderly you spoke of him and how you shared your compassionate communication with him. I continue to hold you in prayer and wrap you in my love from Wisconsin.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Mark when he joined our Toastmasters group at CIT. He raised our group to new levels. I learned from him each time he got up to speak. He made me laugh, he challenged me, he educated me, and he inspired me. I will remember Mark as a warm loving man who KNEW how to communicate! I cherish the short time I had with him. Ruth, I am keeping you, Mark, and your family in my prayers.
I was one of Mark's karate instructors. We called Mark affectionately "doc." Doc inspired so many of us by his persistence and insistence on achieving excellence. He never gave up at trying to improve his techniques. His steadfastness was personally inspiring. He was always respectful, and he was very well-liked by all.
As a child of a survivor, Doc and I would have conversations about our parents' Shoah experiences, and he shared several moving memories and artifacts. It was so obvious how much he respected and loved his parents.
Everyone knew Doc as a self-effacing, caring human being. He was the kind of a person who would if needed, give you the shirt off his back.
He will be sorely missed. I am honored to have known him. May you and the family be comforted by Hashem, among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
I was saddened and shock to learn of Marc's passing. We were roommates during our first year at Yeshiva University. Although we were not the best of roommates (I was totally disorganized), I always considered him a friend. I was especially impressed by his intellect, kindness and patience with everybody who knew him.
My sympathies to Ruth and the entire family.
#5YC Roommates and Friends —
Jay Goldberg2020-03-18 17:38
Mark was one of those unforgettable pure souls that a person is blessed to meet in the course of a lifetime. We were roommates for two wonderful years in our Junior and Senior years at Yeshiva College. We kept in touch over the years. The last time I saw him in person was at my son's (יבדל לחיים) Chasuna over eight years ago. His father passed away twenty years ago, the day before my father passed on.
When I was diagnosed eleven years ago with a form of Lymphoma, he graciously spent time on the telephone providing me with much useful information.
I will always remember his innocent nature, his zest for life and knowledge, his devotion to his family and friends. He will be sorely missed by many.
יהא זכרו ברוך
#4Always a "straight" person —
Zvi I Weiss2020-03-17 17:11
It has been many MANY years since I was in touch with Mark. I recall him from Yeshiva College as a truly straight and ehrliche person and it was with great sorrow that I read of his [to me] very untimely passing. He may have seemed "quirky" to some people -- but he was ALWAYS the "straight arrow". May HaShem provide the true comfort and Yehi Zichro Baruch!
#3I Memory of Mark Grebenau —
Mendy Kasowitz2020-03-16 00:47
Mark called me the day he was admitted to the hospital. He wanted to know what to do with an extra shabbos kit that was left in his room by the previous patient. Why would someone who had a massive heart attack be worrying about that? Because, as he explained to me, someone else may need it.
This was Mark Grebenau in a nutshell. Caring about others first. Maybe his quirkiness was his way of staying humble through all the chesed he did. Kind of like a defense mechanism.
@Mark Grebenau, I passed you on my way to shul often, and depending on where I saw you, I knew how what time it was. (Hameivin yanin).
The Mark Grebenau I knew took on many different roles as I grew up in West Orange. While the role he took on as the Candy man was pretty memorable because he always had a mint for me, the role I most remember him playing was of Sensei Doc, the Tora Dojo Martial arts teacher. He was a great teacher, telling the class stories that would help the class focus on the karate moves and fun stories that never failed to make me laugh. While that karate class was discontinued long ago, Mark Grebenau will always be Sensei Doc.
#1Platelet Donations —
Lewis Smiler2020-03-15 13:07
Mark and I were neighbors. We donated blood platelets together 51 times between Feb. 2016-Nov. 2019. I'm going to miss all the stimulating conversations we had driving to and from Scotch Plains. Mark had so much knowledge on so many different subjects.
Light a Candle
Comments
March 16, 2020
Ruth, while I did not know Mark, I know how tenderly you spoke of him and how you shared your compassionate communication with him. I continue to hold you in prayer and wrap you in my love from Wisconsin.
March 16, 2020
Hello Ruth,
I had the pleasure of getting to know Mark when he joined our Toastmasters group at CIT. He raised our group to new levels. I learned from him each time he got up to speak. He made me laugh, he challenged me, he educated me, and he inspired me. I will remember Mark as a warm loving man who KNEW how to communicate! I cherish the short time I had with him. Ruth, I am keeping you, Mark, and your family in my prayers.
I wish you much Love and peace. God bless you.
Ed Burwell
March 16, 2020
I was one of Mark's karate instructors. We called Mark affectionately "doc." Doc inspired so many of us by his persistence and insistence on achieving excellence. He never gave up at trying to improve his techniques. His steadfastness was personally inspiring. He was always respectful, and he was very well-liked by all.
As a child of a survivor, Doc and I would have conversations about our parents' Shoah experiences, and he shared several moving memories and artifacts. It was so obvious how much he respected and loved his parents.
Everyone knew Doc as a self-effacing, caring human being. He was the kind of a person who would if needed, give you the shirt off his back.
He will be sorely missed. I am honored to have known him. May you and the family be comforted by Hashem, among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
March 22, 2020
I was saddened and shock to learn of Marc's passing. We were roommates during our first year at Yeshiva University. Although we were not the best of roommates (I was totally disorganized), I always considered him a friend. I was especially impressed by his intellect, kindness and patience with everybody who knew him.
My sympathies to Ruth and the entire family.
When I was diagnosed eleven years ago with a form of Lymphoma, he graciously spent time on the telephone providing me with much useful information.
I will always remember his innocent nature, his zest for life and knowledge, his devotion to his family and friends. He will be sorely missed by many.
יהא זכרו ברוך
Why would someone who had a massive heart attack be worrying about that?
Because, as he explained to me, someone else may need it.
This was Mark Grebenau in a nutshell. Caring about others first.
Maybe his quirkiness was his way of staying humble through all the chesed he did. Kind of like a defense mechanism.
@Mark Grebenau, I passed you on my way to shul often, and depending on where I saw you, I knew how what time it was. (Hameivin yanin).
Baruch Dayan Emes!