MARK MATTHEW CARLEY died from natural causes at his home in Playa del Rey, California, on June 5, 2009. Mark was born on January 27, 1957, in Royal Oak, Michigan, and later moved to Houston, where he lived for more than 25 years. He graduated from Westchester High School in 1975 and attended the University of Texas in Austin.
Mark worked for many years at the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) in Marina del Rey, California, one of the nation's most prominent research organizations in the information sciences. During the formative years of the Internet, Mark worked in the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) division of ISI. He also later worked as an accountant and an editor. Mark had many wide-ranging interests, including architecture, design, and travel. He visited all 50 states, and his journeys had taken him to over 30 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of Mark's favorite hobbies, which he enjoyed on many of his trips, was snorkeling to view tropical marine fish, giving him a lasting feeling for the importance of marine and wildlife conservation. He loved animals and took special pride in the care of his pet mice and his Siamese cat, Poko. Mark was also a great lover of books and reading, particularly English history, biographies of all kinds, and science fiction. Mark's naturally artistic and creative sense also had a lighter side; he was an avid fan of bad horror movies and fantasy films and knew every episode of "MST3K," as well as "I Love Lucy" and "Are You Being Served?" by heart. He also had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of many musical styles, and his love and knowledge of pop music in particular scanned the decades from the 1970s to the present.
Mark was an exceptionally thoughtful, caring, and generous man, who rarely failed to remember the special occasions of his family and friends and their children. He had a unique charm and childlike candor that often masked his keen intelligence and intellectual curiosity. Above all, Mark was known for his kindness and wit, and his ability to make others laugh and feel at ease, no matter how short a time he had known them.
A well-loved partner, brother, uncle, and friend, Mark is survived by his partner of 26 years, Steven Strom; his seven siblings, Michael, Robert, Christopher, David, Daniel, Patricia, and Matthew Carley; and 11 nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 2:00 PM. If preferred, in lieu of flowers donations may be sent in Mark's name to one of his two favorite organizations, the National Audubon Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
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