Born in St. Andrew’s, Grenada, August 16, 1933, to Dr. and Mrs. Michael
Z. Mark, “Sonny” as he was affectionately called by everyone was an
excellent student at the Birch Grove Government School, the St.
Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School and The Grenada Boys Secondary
School. He transferred to the St. Andrew’s Teacher Training Center in
1949 where he attained, in consecutive order, the Cambridge University
Junior Certificate, the Cambridge University School Certificate, and
the Grenada Education Department’s Second Class Teacher’s Certificate.
Joachim also exhibited leadership qualities at a young age. From 1948,
at the age of 14 to 1958, he was the Birch Grove Boy’s Scout Troop
Scoutmaster. He was Commanding Officer of the Birch Grove Boy’s
Brigade. He was also a military drill instructor in the Grenada
Volunteer Constabulary (GVC), a Branch of the Royal Grenada Police
Force.
Mr. Mark also was an exemplary educator. In 1954, Joachim received the
First Class Teacher’s Certificate. He then served as Assistant
Principal at the St. Patrick’s and Birch Grove Roman Catholic Schools
where his students loved and admired him for his ability to motivate
them to academic success despite whatever economic and social barriers
they may have faced. "Teacher Mark" instilled in his students a sense
of self worth and ultimate pride.
Mr. Mark decided to further his education by migrating to the United
States in 1958 to attend Howard University in Washington, DC. Although
he could have gone to England and attend Cambridge University, Joachim
chose Howard at the behest of his father, who was the Inspector of
Schools in Grenada, because he believed strongly in the American
College Educational system.
Throughout his academic college career at Howard he was on the Dean’s
List (Honor Roll). Mr. Mark attained this through financial hardship,
working several odd jobs and enduring through the upheaval of the
tumultuous time of the American Civil Rights Movement.
In 1962, Joachim received the Junior Faculty Award, and was nominated
to the National Engineering Society – Tau Beta Pi. He was the first
Grenadian thus honored. He was also honored for being among the top
one-fifth of the engineering students in the United States, and was
also awarded the Certificate of Merit from the Civil Engineering
Student’s Chapter, the American Chapter of The American Society of
Engineers.
At around that time, Joachim married a Grenadian, Bernice Joseph, RN of
River Sallee, St. Patrick’s. In 1963, Mr. Mark graduated at the top of
the class, and was named “Graduating Senior”, and given the graduating
senior award.
Joachim and Bernice then moved to New York City in 1963. Sonny got his
first engineer job working for Andrews and Clarke Engineering
Consultants on what would become the construction of the largest single
span bridge in the world, the Verrazano-Narrows/Staten Island Bridge.
In 1966 got a position as a civil engineer with the New York Department
of Highways where he worked until December, 1998. Promoted to Resident
Engineer and ultimately Project Engineer, “Joe” as his colleagues
referred to him designed, directed, and supervised the capital
improvements of miles of streets in Brooklyn (such as Linden Blvd,
Kings Hwy, etc.) and resurfaced and additional 460 miles. His work
performance earned him seven letters of recommendation for “Merit
Salary Increases.”
In June, 1998, Second Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Design
and Construction, Dr. Michael F. Horodniceau sent a “Recognition of
Long and Dedicated Service Award” letter to Mr. Mark and he was
bestowed the City Employee Recognition Award.
From the mid-1960’s until his death, Mr. Mark participated in a
multitude of political, social and cultural activities, He was a member
and one-time president of the United Grenadians of New York (UGNY)
which was very instrumental in tens of thousands of dollars in funds
and educating Grenadians all over to fight for civil rights in Grenada
and for a better, progressive, Grenadian government throughout the
1970’s.
Mr. Mark was also a member or held board positions on the Committes for
a Better Grenada, the Grenada Ex-Police Association of New York, Inc.,
the Grenadian-American Ex-Students Association, Inc., the Grenada,
Carriacou, Petit Martinique Nurses Association of America, the Birch
Grove – New York Community Council and the Birch Grove Prayer Group,
and headed the Grenada Independence Celebrations Committee from 1993
and 1995.
Joachim was also a historian whose knowledge, based on fact, was
astounding to all those whom he encountered. Some have suggested that
he possessed a photographic memory, for he had the ability to recall
exact time and dates of historic events of all types and to recount the
circumstance and ultimately the significance of the event.
Because of that ability, he would forecast what would happen (such as
him predicting the Iraq War and other invasions. He also had complete
control of the English language which made him a fine orator. He was
also known for his sense of humor and storytelling. His “gift” made him
a hot ticket on the college lecture circuit where he spoke at
institutions such as Harvard University, Brooklyn College, Pace
University, to name a few. He was a regular guest on talk-radio
stations such as WLIB-AM, and WBAI-FM (both in New York).
Mr. Mark’s ultimately will be remembered for his public service to
Grenadians in that he arranged for the entry of 422 Grenadians to the
United States in a 40 plus year period. Most of these individuals at
one time or another lived at the Mark residence, free room and board,
while they became acclimated to America. For several others, he paid
their education or training even though he was not rich by any means.
Many he co-signed on bank loans, and several of the migrants were given
partial or full scholarships. It is in large part because of his
generosity that Grenadians in America and elsewhere have thrived and
become productive citizens.
“Sonny” was a devout Christian who would lead and conduct large
non-denominational song & prayer meetings in the basement of his
home, to try to satisfy the spiritual thirsts of all those who attended
In 1998, Joachim was diagnosed will prostate cancer and made it his
mission to find way to prevent and fight cancer. He became a speaker
for the American Cancer Society.
While in his hospital bed on Monday, June 22, 2009 the Prime Minister
of Grenada, Tillman Thomas presented Mr. Mark with a Letter of
Recommendation to be presented for the insignia of the Spice Isle Award
in honor of Joachim’s patriotism and love for Grenada.
Joachim K. Mark lived a full life and his spirit endures.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, their 2 children Kervyn and Robin, and 2 grandchildren, Morgan and Averie.
The viewing will be held on July 2, 2009, 4pm – 9pm, at the Terragrossa
Andrew and Sons Funeral Home, 2265 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY and
the Funeral will be on July 3, 2009, 9:30am at St. Fortunata RC Church,
2609 Linden Blvd, Brooklyn, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be
made to the American Cancer Society.
To listen to a memorable interview with George Grant, click
here
