Doctor Mark P. Ham, PhD, DAD

DULUTH, MN: 62 years old, Mark died unexpectedly during a camping trip in the Boundary Waters. He was found on Lake Agnes, on his favorite route. He was born July 7, 1961 in Lake Forest, IL, to his parents Bud Ham (now deceased) and Rita (Hubertz).

Always the adventurer, Mark traveled west to go to college at the College of Idaho. There, he met his wife Cathie. While at the C of I, he took up many outdoor activities: rock climbing, camping and hiking. After rock climbing and hitch hiking his way through college, he chose to follow his passion in Psychology. Together, Mark and Cathie moved back to the Chicago area where Mark completed his PhD in Psychology at the University of Chicago, and then again West to Seattle, WA for his post-doc in Clinical Psychology. Throughout his professional career, Mark has specialized in providing services to children and families as well as research in predictive health models aimed at creating healthier communities. Mark enjoyed a fruitful career and was a popular, highly sought after clinician. He often had a waitlist exceeding 6 months with some patients traveling internationally to see him.

Outside of work, Mark loved to play. He enjoyed carpentry and tackled house projects with a “can do” attitude. His home is a testament to his skill in the woodshop and his eye for detail. He was a natural athlete, spending many years biking to work (yes, in the winter too) and in recent years started his days at the Duluth Rowing Club. He often remarked that he was on vacation every day, as he had the gift of beginning his mornings rowing on calm, clear waters with a beautiful view of his home.

Above all other passions, Mark’s greatest love was that of his family. He delighted in his children, their spouses (his “bonus children”), and his grandsons. He and Cathie had a true, grounded love that they shared without reserve. As he inched towards retirement, he and Cathie began making annual treks to the Grand Canyon, traversing the Canyon from North Rim to South several times in the last five years. In their continual training efforts, they could be found hiking up 26th Ave E with packs and poles, drawing curious stares from onlookers as they laughed and raced each other up the hill.

Mark is survived by his wife, Cathie; his children, Molly (David) Bohil and Will (Rachel) Ham; his grandsons, Isaac and August Bohil; his mother, Rita Ham; and his brother, Kurt (Betty) Ham. Those who wish to remember Mark in a special way are asked to contribute towards the protection of the BWCA lands which he so loved. Please join his friends and family at a Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 11:30 am at The Beach House on Park Point in Duluth; bring your own chair and dress for the elements (no black please).

Donations and memories here: https://www.friends-bwca.org/…, https://everloved.com/life-of…, mark.ham.tales@gmail.com

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