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