I knew Mark at Lake Junior High School. He was a year older than me, so he went to GGHS a year before me.
The story we got (and was reported in the news) is that he was struck by a car as he exited the school bus when it dropped him off in his neighborhood at end of day(ran out the door without looking and into the path of the car). It was a freak accident, because apparently the bus dropped him off at a curb that had a service road on the other side. This was his freshman year.
When the news reached us at Lake the next day, those that knew him were pretty shook up, including some teachers that remembered him fondly (he was quite the character). A sports award was later established at Lake and named in his honor, to be given in Mark's memory to the top school athlete each year.
My name is Larry Howe. I actually witnessed his death. We were both freshmen on the wrestling team and though I hadn't known him very long, I already like him alot. He had such a good sense of humor and I enjoyed his company. Anyway, wrestling practice gets out late and darkness loomed as we entered the bus for home.
I sat on the bus on the opposite side of the accident but just happened to face in that direction since I was sitting sideways on the seat, resting from a tough team work out. When the bus came to a stop, Mark got out of his seat towards the back of the bus first. As he passed his older brother who was still seated across the ailse from me, Mark playfully gave his brother a "tag" on the shoulder and kinda ran. His brother did not, I repeat, did not chase after Mark nor did he show any indication he might. But Mark looked backwards anyway as he ran from the curbed island into the street in the path of a VW beetle. I helplessly saw it happen. It all happened so suddenly and he couldn't have heard me anyway (the windows were shut and the noise and it was dark by then)
We all heard the impact over the sound of excellerating bus engine. The white papers from his notebook flew into the air and obscured the rest of my sight. We feared the worst as we all rushed out the bus to help poor Mark. I tried to talk to him but he was completely unconscious though still barely alive. The bus driver tried to stop his bleeding with a hankerchief--it was to no use for his head injury was so massive. I won't go into any more detail to spare close friends and family except to say that it was quick and I believe he did not suffer.
In closing I would like to say how much my heart still goes out to his family. The horror they went through words cannot describe nor should I utter. I must say the woman bus driver was beside herself sorrow and grief. The man that dove the car that killed Mark looked sick to his stomach and so sorry for what had just happened. Maybe they should have done somethings different that fateful night but I can't blame them having been there and rethinking it through the wisdom of age. I have kept this inside me for over fourty years now. I hope this my testimony will ease some minds, shed some light on the event, and hopefully help prevent tragedies like this one from happening in the future. I hope I have not offended anyone by anything I have said. I recount this to the best of my knowledge and as truly as I could.
Mark was my classmate and I remember him well. I'll never forget the day I received an hysterical call from Diane, telling me about Mark's accident. I was in shock and it took a few minutes before I could wrap my mind around what I was hearing to even consider it was true.
Mark was such a wonderful, cheerful and kind person, and I know he loved God. I've never shared this with anyone before, but in his own way, Mark’s life and early death made an impression upon me that was instrumental in planting a seed that eventually lead to my belief in Jesus as my savior. I'm confident Mark is blessed in heaven now.
James Reitz (1971)
I knew Mark at Lake Junior High School. He was a year older than me, so he went to GGHS a year before me.The story we got (and was reported in the news) is that he was struck by a car as he exited the school bus when it dropped him off in his neighborhood at end of day(ran out the door without looking and into the path of the car). It was a freak accident, because apparently the bus dropped him off at a curb that had a service road on the other side. This was his freshman year.
When the news reached us at Lake the next day, those that knew him were pretty shook up, including some teachers that remembered him fondly (he was quite the character). A sports award was later established at Lake and named in his honor, to be given in Mark's memory to the top school athlete each year.
Larry Howe (1970)
To all who knew and loved Mark Vodonick,My name is Larry Howe. I actually witnessed his death. We were both freshmen on the wrestling team and though I hadn't known him very long, I already like him alot. He had such a good sense of humor and I enjoyed his company. Anyway, wrestling practice gets out late and darkness loomed as we entered the bus for home.
I sat on the bus on the opposite side of the accident but just happened to face in that direction since I was sitting sideways on the seat, resting from a tough team work out. When the bus came to a stop, Mark got out of his seat towards the back of the bus first. As he passed his older brother who was still seated across the ailse from me, Mark playfully gave his brother a "tag" on the shoulder and kinda ran. His brother did not, I repeat, did not chase after Mark nor did he show any indication he might. But Mark looked backwards anyway as he ran from the curbed island into the street in the path of a VW beetle. I helplessly saw it happen. It all happened so suddenly and he couldn't have heard me anyway (the windows were shut and the noise and it was dark by then)
We all heard the impact over the sound of excellerating bus engine. The white papers from his notebook flew into the air and obscured the rest of my sight. We feared the worst as we all rushed out the bus to help poor Mark. I tried to talk to him but he was completely unconscious though still barely alive. The bus driver tried to stop his bleeding with a hankerchief--it was to no use for his head injury was so massive. I won't go into any more detail to spare close friends and family except to say that it was quick and I believe he did not suffer.
In closing I would like to say how much my heart still goes out to his family. The horror they went through words cannot describe nor should I utter. I must say the woman bus driver was beside herself sorrow and grief. The man that dove the car that killed Mark looked sick to his stomach and so sorry for what had just happened. Maybe they should have done somethings different that fateful night but I can't blame them having been there and rethinking it through the wisdom of age. I have kept this inside me for over fourty years now. I hope this my testimony will ease some minds, shed some light on the event, and hopefully help prevent tragedies like this one from happening in the future. I hope I have not offended anyone by anything I have said. I recount this to the best of my knowledge and as truly as I could.
Sincerely, Lawrence S. Howe 12-27-09
Pam Abrams (St. Pierre) (1970)
Mark was my classmate and I remember him well. I'll never forget the day I received an hysterical call from Diane, telling me about Mark's accident. I was in shock and it took a few minutes before I could wrap my mind around what I was hearing to even consider it was true.Mark was such a wonderful, cheerful and kind person, and I know he loved God. I've never shared this with anyone before, but in his own way, Mark’s life and early death made an impression upon me that was instrumental in planting a seed that eventually lead to my belief in Jesus as my savior. I'm confident Mark is blessed in heaven now.