Mark Stephen Hanks

Mark Stephen Hanks 
07-02-1950 — 06-29-2022

Mark Stephen Hanks peacefully passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, June 29th, 2022, just shy of his 72nd birthday. Mark was born on July 2nd, 1950 in Kilgore, Texas, and grew up in Southern California with his three siblings and loving parents. Mark graduated from Hueneme High School and UC Santa Barbara before pursuing his dance and acting career in New York City and Los Angeles. Mark’s love for the performing arts took him from being a former gymnast, to dancing with the Joffrey Ballet and acting and performing in the theatre. He made a smooth transition from the stage and screen to the international food and wine scene. Along the way, he met the love of his life, Dianne, and their beautiful marriage spanned 40 incredible years. In 1989, Mark and Dianne relocated to the East Coast to sunny Vero Beach, Florida where he worked in the world citrus trading industry for over 30 years. He worked in sales and marketing originally for Ocean Spray before joining DNE - Bernard Egan and Company. Throughout his life and career, Mark made lifelong friendships around the globe that were so meaningful in his life. Mark is survived by his wife, Dianne, and their two children, their son, Leland, and their daughter, Anna Jagolinzer and husband David. Mark is also survived by his Mother, Dama, who had just celebrated her 100th birthday with him, as well as his two brothers, Robert and Jim, and his sister, Dama Lou Brener. He is preceded in death by his father, Louis Hanks. As his final act, for the last year and a half, Mark battled the challenges of Multiple Myeloma with the full support of his family.

A celebration of Mark’s life will be held at a future date in the fall of this year. Instead of flowers, please send donations to the Surfrider Foundation - Ventura County Chapter in California. https://ventura.surfrider.org/
or the Sierra Club. https://www.sierraclub.org/


Mark was the most loved and adored husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend, and colleague to all who knew him. With his dazzling smile, charm and grace, Mark lit up every room he entered and was always the guy you wanted to be with at a dinner party and share a glass of red wine. “Mark After Dark" and his dance moves will forever live on in our hearts, riding waves into the sunset on his boogie board. God bless him for the memories he left us with, until we meet again.