Mark Edward Westbrook
July 16, 2019
Mark Edward Westbrook, 1955-2019
Mark Edward Westbrook, a career computer engineer, gently passed away on July 16 at his home in Gainesville,Florida after a long battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.
Born in Sayre, PA, Mark graduated from Carlisle Senior High School in Carlisle, PA, in 1973, and then joined the U.S. Navy, training as an electronics specialist and attaining the rank of Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician First Class. He left the U.S. Navy after eight years and settled in south Florida.
He was employed as a computer specialist by Harris Computers / Concurrent Computer Corporation from 1981-2007. In 2007, he joined InfoTech in Gainesville as a software trainer and consultant. In all of these places of service, Mark was awarded several times for excellent customer service.
In 1993, while working at Harris/Concurrent, he completed an Associate Degree in engineering at Broward Community College and, in 1999, a Bachelor of Science Degree in computer science at Florida Atlantic University.
Mark was an avid gardener, nature photographer, and amateur horticulturist; a collector of gardening tools and books; an enthusiast of light jazz; and the proud and caring owner of Smokey, a 12-year old cat.
Mark is survived by his beloved partner and spouse Cindy B. Avnet; a son Jeremy Westbrook of Fort Lauderdale, FL; and his siblings Deborah (& Alan) Herman of Perkasie, PA; Bradley Westbrook (& Ardys Kozbial) of Beverly, MA, and Larry (& LuAnne) Westbrook of Macon, IL. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Dorrance B. Westbrook (1926-1977) and Phyllis Louesa (née VanGorder) Westbrook Walsh Boland (1932-2012).
Nieces and nephews include: Adam (& Sandy) Herman, Jill Herman, Bethany (& Joshua) Isabell; Justin Westbrook and Brent Westbrook; Nathan (& Genevra Kuziel) Westbrook and Nicholas Westbrook.
Please honor Mark Westbrook’s memory by making a donation to UF Health Shands Hospital. Gifts may be mailed to UF Health Office of Development, PO Box 100386, Gainesville, FL 32610.
Please make checks payable to Southeastern Healthcare Foundation and indicate on your check memo line that your gift is in memory of Mark Westbrook. The link for on-line contributions is: http://donate.giving.ufhealth.org/westbrook
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Mark's life was full of energy and passion and zeal in everything he undertook. On the "domestic front", that was reflected in a deep love for his wife & his home. On the "work front", Mark performed his occupation with an uncompromising focus on excellence in customer and coworker experience. His list of avocations was long; and included manicuring his lawn, tending his gardens, tinkering in his workshop, researching countless projects, fawning over his feline, "hunting" with his camera lens, and always thinking about how to make things better. Mark will be missed for these … and so many other reasons. Your loving family will honor your memory by each one striving to better "us's".
Mark was a wonderful friend who allowed me to drag him around on small hikes at places I was uncomfortable hiking alone. He helped me multiple times with repairs when my husband was hospitalized and loaned me his mower whenever mine broke down. He was an awesome friend. I can’t look at a butterfly without thinking of him. I will miss his level head and even temperament as both helped me at work and at home. I am less now that he’s not around.