CHARNESS, Mark – Passed away peacefully on December 27th, 2022 in his 100th year of a full and rewarding life and on the 75th anniversary of his marriage to the love of his life, Gloria Charness. Mark was born in 1923 in Montreal, Quebec, to Abe and Rachel Charness. He was raised in a loving, hard-working family and understood his responsibilities and obligations from a very young age. He gave generously of himself throughout his life. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on the first day he was eligible. With a keen gift for math and a remarkable ability to solve complex equations in his head, Mark trained as a navigator, earning the rank of Flying Officer. He was stationed in Little Staughton, England, and served with the 582 Squadron of the prestigious Royal Air Force Pathfinders Group. Pathfinders lead large formations of Lancaster bombers to remote locations in Europe in the dark of night, hovering over and illuminating their targets with flares until hundreds bombers completed their missions. Casualty rates were extraordinarily high, and Mark carried the courage that supported those missions throughout his life. That same courage sustained Mark as he used his wartime severance pay to start a business in an industry he knew little about. With immense dedication, hard work, and innate business acumen, he, together with his brothers and father, grew Budmark Converters into a major Canadian success story, becoming a pre-eminent supplier of textiles to Canada’s burgeoning clothing manufacturing trade. After selling Budmark, Mark worked as a business consultant to customers in both the US and Canada. He served on several prestigious boards and was a founding partner in Liz Claiborne Inc. and two US banks. Mark and Gloria (nee Gollin) fell in love after a chance weekend meeting in the Catskills and just a few weeks of long-distance dating. They overcame an historic New York City snowstorm to get married on December 27, 1947. Mark and Gloria, known throughout their 75-year marriage as his `bride’, raised five remarkable children. Despite his passion for business, he considered his family his greatest success. Mark took immense pride watching his young family grow, flourish, and begin families of their own. His memory will live on in Neil and Beth, David and Leslie, Michael and Deborah, Peter and Annemarie, and Marilyn Shank and Gordon, 11 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, and a large brood of nieces and nephews. He never retired, although the term brought a twinkle to his eye and a smile to his face. Proud always of his ability to stay sharp and active, he managed his own portfolio and continued `to earn a living’ until his final days. One of his greatest callings was sharing his business acumen with his family, many friends, and business associates, all of whom benefited greatly from his generosity and expertise. Mark and Gloria were lifelong supporters of both needy individuals and charitable organizations, including Combined Jewish Appeal, Baycrest Hospital, and Sunnybrook Medical Foundation. Mark had a keen sense of humor and a ready joke to share. He enjoyed golf well into his 90’s. He was a passionate card shark, skilled in the art of poker and gin rummy. He could be found playing solitaire, alone during the hours when sleep evaded him, or together with three generations of young children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers Seymour, aka Bud, 1921-1964, Edith and Gerald, 1926-2011, Phyllis. In addition to his children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren, he leaves behind his sister, Lucille Wolf and Norton. He will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by his family and friends. Memorial donations may be made to The Sunnybrook Foundation c/o Veterans Care, (416) 480-4483 or a Charity of Your Choice.
Tuesday December 27 2022
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Mark Charness Tuesday December 27 2022 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.
benjamins park memorial chapel
Décès pour la Ville:Toronto, Province: Ontario