Mark Anthony Herrera's Obituary
Beloved husband, father, brother, son, friend and teacher Mark Anthony Herrera, 50, passed away on March 6, 2024.
Born on July 5, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Mark was the doted upon “baby brother” and youngest son. Precocious, challenging and brilliant, he excelled throughout his years in school. The youngest son of immigrant parents, he studied and taught himself to read Spanish, play the flute and saxophone, write and compose music.
Mark graduated from the University of Utah with degrees in physics and math in 1997. He studied education at Harvard University. And in 2005, he received his juris doctor degree from the SJ Quinney College of Law.
He worked for the Guadalupe Schools, Workforce Services, the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Neumont College of Computer Science, Salt Lake City School District, and Silicon Valley startups.
Throughout his career, he sought to make a difference and impact the lives of people around him. He had a strongly developed sense of justice. He will be remembered for following his heart. He was so very generous and shared his love with his close friends, showing up on the doorstep when least expected and most needed. He was a great listener and a person to turn to when times were tough.
Equal parts savant and goof, Mark was a stickler for purity when it came to Marvel, DC, Star Wars and monster movies: Only the 1974 “Godzilla v. Mechagodzilla” was worth watching, but “Predator” and “Commando” were in regular rotation. He loved Iron Maiden and John Coltrane. Long live Tony Dazzleship!
Family was Mark’s great love. He doted on his brother, sisters, niece, nephews and former students. (And every dog and toddler he ever met.) He welcomed a new stepson and wife into his circle of unconditional, fierce love five years ago and never looked back.
Mark is survived by his wife Rebecca Walsh, stepson Jack Israelsen, sisters Rosario (Raul) Flores, Socorro Herrera, brother Salvador “Chava” (Josefina), and nieces and nephews: David, Adrian, Matthew, Andres and Samantha. Preceded in death by his beloved mother, Elena V. Herrera and nephew Alex Flores.
Mark was a devout Catholic. He will be remembered at a visitation, Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Neil O’Donnell Funeral Home, 372 E. 100 South in Salt Lake City. Viewing at 6 p.m.; Rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral mass at Salt Lake City’s Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E. South Temple, on Friday, March 22 at 12:30 p.m.
Internment at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Saturday, March 23, 2024.
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