Mark Hess

Mark A. Hess, 57, of Indiana, PA passed away on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, at his home. The son of Pat (Mark) Hess and the late John “Jack” E. Hess of Boalsburg, PA, Mark was born Aug. 17, 1956, in Bellefonte, PA. He graduated from State College Area High School in 1974, received a B.S. in Health & Physical Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1978 and an M.S. in Sports Science (Aquatics) from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1985. Mark taught health and physical education at the Indiana Junior High School for over 30 years and championed all efforts and activities that were meant to help students succeed at school and in life. He coached the Indiana High School boys and girls swim teams and the Indiana YMCA Piranhas swim team for more than 30 years. His boys’ high school swim teams, which included three of his sons, won the WPIAL championships the past three years. Mark was pleased and humbled to be inducted into the Indiana County Sports Hall of Fame this past May, an honor which he shares with all the athletes, parents, and other coaches who helped him achieve it. Mark loved teaching, coaching, and all of the young people that were his students and team members. Mark was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Indiana and taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School there for more than thirty years. Mark loved all sports and outdoor endeavors especially fishing, and hunting deer and turkey. He played softball for many years on a team with his father and with the Indiana church league. His ping pong playing skill was unmatched. Mark also enjoyed attending all of the activities in which his four sons participated. Mark was married to the love of his life, Sherene (Heckman) Hess for twenty-one years. He also is survived by four sons: Adam, Logan, Grant, and Gage, all of Indiana; his sister, Lee Ann Hess Candor and her husband, Jim, of State College, PA; his dear cousins Joan Corman Pecht and partner Nevin Dutrow, and Tracey Corman Moore and husband Rex, of State College; Shelley Corman and husband Kim Erb, of Houston TX; father-in-law, Sherwood Heckman, Millheim, PA; sister-in-law Jennifer Beres and husband Michael, of State College; brothers- in-law Timothy Heckman and Kristian Heckman, of Woodward, PA; many special aunts, uncles, and cousins; and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Lorene Wance. The family will receive friends on Tuesday Sept. 10 and Wednesday Sept 11 from 2 – 8 pm at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home, Indiana. A funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Indiana, PA on Thursday, September 12 at 11 am. A memorial and committal service at Zion Lutheran Church, Boalsburg, PA will be held on Friday, September 13 at 2 pm, with visitation preceding the service from 10 am – 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to Zion Lutheran Church, Indiana, PA or to the Indiana High School Swim Team Boosters Club.