Stephen Patrick Marks, a devoted educator, entrepreneur, and father, passed away on December 22, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 73. He was surrounded by loved ones after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease.

Born in Virginia on April 8, 1951, Steve was raised in Midland, Michigan. He graduated from Midland High School in 1969 and went on to earn a bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics from Michigan State University, a school he cherished throughout his life.

Steve began his career as a math teacher in various Michigan schools, eventually landing at Dow High School in Midland, where he also coached track and cross-country. After ten years, he returned to Michigan State for a master's in operations research, briefly worked at Bell Labs, then transitioned into entrepreneurship. Driven by a vision of technology enhancing education, he founded Data Image in 1987 and Alternative View in 1996, both companies supplying schools with multimedia projection equipment. He concluded his diverse career by returning to his roots, teaching math at Sedona High School in Arizona until his retirement in 2017.

In his leisure time, Steve pursued his love for reading and golf, often enjoying rounds with his lifelong friend Joe North. Also a passionate explorer, Steve delighted in taking the scenic route, poring over maps to uncover hidden gems along the way. His travels took him to all 50 states and extended abroad to Europe and China. In his later years, he found immense joy in Sedona, Arizona, hiking its trails and logging over 1,000 miles annually on multiple occasions.

Surviving Steve are his sons, Daniel and Michael (wife Hannah, children Mia and Emma), from his 30-year marriage with Cherie Marks, with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship; his sister, Jill (husband Scott); and his brothers, Chris (wife Huichae) and Tim. He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Virginius Archer "Mark" Marks (d. 2005), mother, (Emma) Marye Marks (d. 2012), and brother, Craig Marks (d. 2024).

The family is planning a celebration of life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, they request that donations be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation in Steve's memory. Contributions can be made through this GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/fe28f1f9

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