CAPT Mark F. Springer USN (Ret) VP-4 1992 – 1994?
Mark Frederick Springer
Oct. 7, 1967 – Jan. 24, 2023
On Jan. 24, 2023, Captain Mark Springer, USN (Ret) – beloved father, son, brother, and proud Navy Pilot – passed away suddenly following a brief illness at his home at the age of 55.
Mark graduated from Hillsboro High School at 17 and began his U.S. Navy career by joining the Class of 1989 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. While attending USNA, Mark excelled as a member of the Navy Rugby team and earned a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. After graduation, he entered the Navy’s pilot training program in Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas, earning Wings of Gold and becoming a P-3 Pilot. Mark’s Navy career took him all over the world, where he was the commanding officer of three stations: VT-35 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Naval Munitions Command- Conus East Division, Yorktown, Va., and the ROTC program at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Mark retired from active duty in 2018 as a U.S. Navy Captain and continued supporting recruitment.
Upon retiring from the Navy, Mark and his family returned to the Portland, Ore., area, and he returned to the skies and his love of flying by joining FlexJet in 2018. Within the first year, he upgraded to Captain on a Gulfstream 450 and was selected to stand up with an exceptional team within his company. His fellow pilots and cabin crew considered him remarkable and loved working with him.
Mark married Lori Lynn Pekkola in 1998 and was the proud father of Matthew and Hayley. Mark’s greatest joy was spending time with his children and their shared experiences. Hiking, skiing, fishing, traveling, and attending concerts are some lasting memories of their adventures together.
Mark is survived by his mother, Joan Springer-Wellman (Ken); his daughter, Hayley; his son, Matthew (U.S. Coast Guard); his siblings, Karin Springer-Smith (James) and Carole Garner (Mark, Ada, and Will); beloved nephews, nieces and cousins; along with military colleagues and many friends around the world.
He was preceded in death by his father, Hugh Springer, and his grandparents, Robert and Marcia Mackey and Harry and Ruth Springer.
A service and celebration will be held in the future. In place of flowers, please consider contributing to an organization that promotes the outdoors.
Please sign the online guest book at www.oregonlive.com/obits
Published by The Oregonian from Feb. 10 to Feb. 12, 2023.
https://obits.oregonlive.com/us/obituaries/oregon/name/mark-springer-obituary?id=43603418
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