Mark Duda
March 19, 2011
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
Mark Baity Duda, age 53, of Cumming, Iowa, passed away suddenly Saturday, March 19, 2011. Mark was born December 18, 1957, in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Dr. Edward and Marilyn Duda.
Mark attended Roger Ludlowe High School in Fairfield, CT, and graduated in 1976. He was very active in sports, hockey, lacrosse and football. After high school he followed in his father’s footsteps and went to Williston Academy in Northampton, Massachusetts. He attended Ithaca College where he graduated in 1981. Mark went on to be a well-known leader in the data services industry. Throughout his career, Mark held increasingly senior executive positions at leading marketing services companies including ICOM Information and Communications, Inc., Madison Direct Marketing, The Walter Karl Companies, and the Direct Media Group. Mark was also very involved in the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) including serving on the strategic planning board.
Mark joined Meredith in 2006, and quickly become a valuable colleague, business partner, and friend. He was responsible for marketing Meredith’s deep database of American women and created many valuable relationships with clients. Mark was an energetic and passionate professional.
Mark was an avid sportsman who loved hunting, fishing, cycling, snowshoeing and most of all cheering on his Vikings!
His love of life and family was overwhelming and those that knew him admired him. Even when faced with tragedy and loss, he always remained positive. He enjoyed his friends and family and enjoyed spending time with his sister at the family farm in Dows, Iowa.
He leaves behind his sister, Sarah (Tassinari); his friend, Carol; three children, Rachel, Hilary and Parker; and numerous relatives and friends across the country.
Memorial services are pending.
To honor and pay tribute to Mark, Meredith Corporation and members of the direct/interactive marketing community are joining together to establish a scholarship fund in his name. The fund, which benefits college and university students studying data and targeting strategies in direct and interactive marketing, is administered by the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation (DMEF). In an effort to mirror the passion and commitment demonstrated by Mark, the first Mark Duda Scholarship Fund will be introduced in 2011, with the first scholarship awarded in August. You may pay tribute to Mark through a contribution to the Fund in his name.
The website is:
www.directworks.org/Contribute/Default.aspx?id=4232
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Bob Wiegers
03/07/2025
Mark was a great dude! Dudes! I worked with Mark at the Paterson Club during our college years. Great times. Sarah was awesome too. Enjoyed visiting Mark at the farm up at Ithaca. Will always remember you Dudes! God bless man.
Jeff Reinhardt
05/11/2011
Mark and I both went to Ithaca College. While we did not know one another at I.C., we always shared this bond as we discussed it during our business meetings.
Mark was also a fellow Fairfield County CT resident for years and we always joked how we'd see one another in every other city and state (for business reasons) and never in CT.
My prayers to his family and friends.
Mike and JC Bryant
04/25/2011
We were very sad to hear of Mark's passing. We just became aware of this last evening. We met Mark years ago as we sat next to each other at Vikings games. Through out the years we moved to different seats but continued to cheer on the Vikings together thru tailgating with him or meeting up somewhere for pre-game fun. He was truly one of the kindest and fun loving persons we have ever met. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. To his family, we are so sorry for your loss, he will be missed from Minneapolis to Cumming, Iowa.
Mike and JC Bryant
Ames, Iowa
Carolyn (Young) Harper
04/08/2011
I don't need to look at our Ludlowe '76 yearbook to remember who he was. It is his last name, which like a catchy ad jingle, made him memorable to me. RIP fellow Ludlowe alum. John 3:16
Dave Ramlogan
04/02/2011
TO Mark's family and friends, my deepest condolences on your loss. I had the please of working with Mark at ICOM for a few years. His passion and humor were infectious. I remember his stories of the ice rink at the back of the house. My prayers and thoughts are with you all. - Dave Ramlogan
David Kufferman
03/30/2011
I have known Mark since 5th grade at Timothy Dwight School in Fairfield. We stayed friends for many years, but unfortunately we fell out of touch after he moved out to Minnesota with his family. How very sad I was to read about Mark's passing today in the local paper.
Mark was a terrific, warm, fun loving guy who had a great love of life. Mark truly cared about people. When my dad died, Mark was the only one of my friends who cared enough to come to the funeral. He knew exactly what I was feeling at that moment, since he had lost his own father only a few years before. That realization made my own grief easier to bear, and will make me think fondly of Mark as long as I live.
Now it is his family that must somehow deal with such a terrible loss. My deepest thoughts are with them now.
Tom Moninger - Broomfield, CO
03/29/2011
I cannot remember the last time I saw Mark, but it was likely about the time he started his working career and he went to work earning all the accolades I have been reading.
The first time I met Mark we were in Stamford, CT in ~1962 and he was about 5 and I was about 14. We met through family friends from Iowa. I have a recollection of being at their house playing a memory game and he decidedly cleaning my clock numerous times.
Mark's father Ed was the driving force behind me attending Williston Academy. I have many fond memories of spending time with Mark's family both in Fairfield, CT and Easthampton, MA.
We extend our condolences to Mark's family and friends and wish you all a wonderful celebration of his life.
The Moninger Family
Amy de Silva
03/28/2011
I had the pleasure of working with Mark for several years at ICOM. Mark always had an easy and infectious smile and had a way of being able to get anyone to do just about anything he wanted.
I used to joke that I could recognize his ring. If Mark needed you badly enough, hed call around until he finally found you!
The last time I saw him was at a conference in Las Vegas, he was trying to hail a cab and couldnt find one in sight, so we pulled over and picked him up. He was so grateful; he paid the fare for us.
My deepest sympathies to Marks friends and family.
Mark, you will be truly missed. Rest in peace.
Martha Hartfiel
03/28/2011
I was very sad to hear about Mark's passing. I knew him as a fellow hockey parent. My daughter, Sally, and and Hilary had great times together playing youth hockey. Mark was one of the coaches that helped the girls get to the state tournament one year. He was an enthusiastic and encouraging coach and alway had a positive attitude. My heart goes out to his three children and extended family.
Loretta Maurer
03/25/2011
My deepest condolences to Mark's family.
Susan Oliver
03/24/2011
I was so saddened to hear the news about Mark. I had the pleasure of working with him for several years at ICOM. Mark was a great colleague - smart, energetic, supportive, knowledgeable and just an all around great guy.
To his family -- please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss. He spoke of you all with so much love and pride -- I hope this is some small comfort in the difficult days ahead.
Annie from ICOM
03/24/2011
Peace and love to Mark's family.
Jan Carter
03/24/2011
To Mark's family and friends, I am so sorry for your loss. Its a loss for us, his work colleagues too. Mark was one of the good guys. I worked with him for a few years at ICOM, and it was always a pleasure putting together campaigns for him or getting his material ready for trade shows. Even though there were deadlines, he was always pleasant; he was driven, but always kind and supportive. And he always spoke so warmly, and so often, of his family - vacations, holidays, birthdays, you name it, he was proud to share happy goings-on in his life. Only a few weeks ago, I put together my portfolio for a job interview, and Mark's name was all over one of my featured direct marketing campaigns. As Jeanine wrote, please know he will be missed far and wide.
Jeanine Groenewegen
03/24/2011
So very sad to hear about Mark.
What a lovely guy. I had the pleasure of working with him for several years at ICOM.
He was always moving and talking fast, flashing his big smile in between the big ideas.
I haven't been in touch in a long time, but I certainly thought of him - and I will always remember him as the nicest, fast-talking sales guy around :)
To his family and close friends, I am so very sorry for your loss.
Please know he will be missed far and wide.
Jeanine Groenewegen
Iris Jacobson
03/24/2011
It has been some time since I Mark and I worked together at ICOM, but I will never forget his infectious enthusiasm and humor, his smarts, and his passion for his work and his kids.
An image that sticks in my mind about Mark relates to the days before webinars -- when we would conduct video conference calls and Mark always wore his crisp white shirt and tie for the camera. The joke was that he was probably sitting in his boxers but the camera never moved below the waist!
I am saddened by Mark's premature passing and hope he's resting in a peaceful place.
Iris Jacobson