NOVEMBER 7 • 2024 | 53
D
r. Mark Parr Owens, 85,
dedicated husband, father
and physician, passed away
peacefully in his Sacramento, Calif.,
home Oct.19, 2024, surrounded by
his beloved wife, Ruth
Raskin Owens; his four
children and four grand-
children.
Born in Detroit, May
7, 1939, to Lillian and
Albert Owens, he was
the eldest of three chil-
dren: treasured brother to Carol
Owens Rosenberg and Dr. Leon
Owens.
Mark graduated from Detroit’s
Mumford High School in 1956 and
was a Rajah Club member, lead
musician with the Four Scores and
a record-holding athlete in football,
basketball, baseball and track.
Attending Brandeis University and
the University of Michigan, where
he was a Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity
member, Mark studied botany and
pre-medicine, earning a degree from
the University of Michigan Medical
School, where he served as class
president and finished first in his
class.
Mark began his career as a general
surgeon at Sinai Hospital of Detroit,
where he met and married his wife,
Ruth Raskin, in 1964. He then served
his country for two years, with a
one-year tour during the Vietnam
War, saving countless lives as an
Army mobile combat surgeon. Mark
earned the Bronze Star, saving the
life of a local governor, single-hand-
edly fighting off the enemy. Major
Mark Owens was ordered a Purple
Heart and multiple medals of com-
mendation.
After the war, Mark became a pro-
fessor of surgery at the University of
California at Davis, where he estab-
lished the general surgical residency
program and authored multiple
scientific journal articles. During
his 55 years practicing medicine
as a general surgeon and a trau-
ma surgeon, “Dr. Mark,” as he was
called, was adored in the Sacramento
community by both his patients and
colleagues.
Mark served as Head of Surgery
and vice president of Medical Affairs
of Mercy San Juan Hospital. He was
also instrumental in building the
Level 2 Trauma center on the same
campus. In 2015, he established the
surgical department at California
Northstate College of Medicine.
In 1983, along with his wife Ruth,
brother Leon and sister-in-law, Lydia
Owens (of blessed memory), he
helped build Temple Or Rishon in
Orangevale, Calif., which grew from
a small warehouse to a new building
with a burgeoning membership.
In his spare time, Mark would
plant palm trees to surround his
family home and play piano, French
horn, double bass and ultimately
first trombone in the Sacramento
Symphony. When asked why he
planted so many trees he would
not be able to enjoy at their fullest
growth, he submitted that he would
do this for others. No more need be
understood about Mark.
Respected and adored by all whose
lives were fortunate to have been
touched by his inimitable kindness,
compassion and devotion, Mark Parr
Owens left a legendary career and
legacy which will live on.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth;
his children, Jennifer, Sarah (Aaron),
Albert and John (Megan); and
grandchildren, Elijah, Ezekiel, Lillian
and Lazarus; and many loving nieces,
nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Contributions may be made to
the Carol Rosenberg Promises Kept
Fund at Jewish Senior Life, jslmi.
org; or Temple Or Rishon, orrishon.
org.
Esteemed Surgeon Had a 55-Year Career
Dr. Mark
Owens
Jewish Federation of Detroit
Honors the Memory of
Sheldon D. Stern, md
1929-2024
On Behalf of a Grateful Community