Obituaries
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Obituary for Dr. Mark R. Orner
"My Luv, My Heart, My Everything is gone. Right now I don't know how I will be able to go on." © Susan M. Orner
Dr. Mark Robert Orner of Orange, CT passed away suddenly on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at St. Vincent's Medical Center with his family at his side. Mark was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to Robert and Shirley Orner on May 4, 1955.
He moved with his family to Stratford, CT in 1956. He graduated from Bunnell High School in Stratford, CT in 1973 and immediately began his career at Raybestos in Stratford. He started loading trailers with brakeshoes and worked his way up to Packaging Engineer just in time for Raybestos to close its doors. Not knowing what direction to go in at that point, he decided to begin college and enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University. He quickly developed a love of learning and decided to continue on for his Master's Degree, commuting to the University of Massachusetts. Once he received his Master's Degree, he decided to go for it all and continued his commute to UMASS for his Ph.D. in Communication which was one of the proudest days in his life. Mark returned to Southern Connecticut State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication where his happiest moments were sharing his love of learning and film with his students.
Mark was married on May 26, 1979 to his best friend and "Luv", Susan M. (Kostrey) Orner. They met when Sue was 13 and Mark was 15 and after spending Memorial Day together, he gave her a kiss and said "I guess this means we're going out" and they were inseparable from that day forward. Mark always believed he and his wife were two people connected with one heart. He was right.Â
Mark grew up without a dog in his life until he got married and was told his first home and his wife had to have a dog or they would not be happy. He has now been reunited at the Rainbow Bridge with his two Shetland Sheepdogs, Shelbie and Emma and his two Rough Collies, Wilsie and Kate. He loved and spoiled those girls more than ever and missed them all very much when they were gone.
Mark was a lover of all genres of music and took great pride in his stereo system and CD collection and would have music filling the house all the time. He enjoyed playing his guitar for relaxation and enjoyment. Mark also loved fly fishing, which he learned from his dad; they were a beautiful picture walking rivers together catching (or not) fish. Mark taught his wife to fly fish and the times they spent fishing were the best ever. They enjoyed traveling and spending time learning about the different places they went to fish. Mark was fascinated with flying and got his private pilot's license. He enjoyed taking friends up for flights and looking at different places in and around CT. Unfortunately, that enjoyment was cut short when the cost of fuel skyrocketed.
In addition to his loving and devoted wife, he is survived by his brother, Todd R. Orner and his wife Jacqueline of Oxford, CT; his nephew Max R. Orner and his niece Samantha N. Orner, both of which he thought the world of; his cousin Sandra Osterwise of Fairport, NY; his sister- in-law Joann M. Raytar of Orange, CT; his aunt and uncle Connie Lou and Robert James of New Castle, PA and his Aunt Eleanor Orner of Youngwood, PA. He was predeceased by his dad, Robert; his mom, Shirley and his sister, Diane all of Stratford, CT.
All services were private and entrusted to The William R. McDonald Funeral Home, Stratford, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that any memorial contributions be made in memory of Mark to VCA Cheshire, 1572 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410 and noted "In Memory of Mark R. Orner".
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Dr. Mark Robert Orner of Orange, CT passed away suddenly on Sunday, April 17, 2016 at St. Vincent's Medical Center with his family at his side. Mark was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to Robert and Shirley Orner on May 4, 1955.
He moved with his family to Stratford, CT in 1956. He graduated from Bunnell High School in Stratford, CT in 1973 and immediately began his career at Raybestos in Stratford. He started loading trailers with brakeshoes and worked his way up to Packaging Engineer just in time for Raybestos to close its doors. Not knowing what direction to go in at that point, he decided to begin college and enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University. He quickly developed a love of learning and decided to continue on for his Master's Degree, commuting to the University of Massachusetts. Once he received his Master's Degree, he decided to go for it all and continued his commute to UMASS for his Ph.D. in Communication which was one of the proudest days in his life. Mark returned to Southern Connecticut State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication where his happiest moments were sharing his love of learning and film with his students.
Mark was married on May 26, 1979 to his best friend and "Luv", Susan M. (Kostrey) Orner. They met when Sue was 13 and Mark was 15 and after spending Memorial Day together, he gave her a kiss and said "I guess this means we're going out" and they were inseparable from that day forward. Mark always believed he and his wife were two people connected with one heart. He was right.Â
Mark grew up without a dog in his life until he got married and was told his first home and his wife had to have a dog or they would not be happy. He has now been reunited at the Rainbow Bridge with his two Shetland Sheepdogs, Shelbie and Emma and his two Rough Collies, Wilsie and Kate. He loved and spoiled those girls more than ever and missed them all very much when they were gone.
Mark was a lover of all genres of music and took great pride in his stereo system and CD collection and would have music filling the house all the time. He enjoyed playing his guitar for relaxation and enjoyment. Mark also loved fly fishing, which he learned from his dad; they were a beautiful picture walking rivers together catching (or not) fish. Mark taught his wife to fly fish and the times they spent fishing were the best ever. They enjoyed traveling and spending time learning about the different places they went to fish. Mark was fascinated with flying and got his private pilot's license. He enjoyed taking friends up for flights and looking at different places in and around CT. Unfortunately, that enjoyment was cut short when the cost of fuel skyrocketed.
In addition to his loving and devoted wife, he is survived by his brother, Todd R. Orner and his wife Jacqueline of Oxford, CT; his nephew Max R. Orner and his niece Samantha N. Orner, both of which he thought the world of; his cousin Sandra Osterwise of Fairport, NY; his sister- in-law Joann M. Raytar of Orange, CT; his aunt and uncle Connie Lou and Robert James of New Castle, PA and his Aunt Eleanor Orner of Youngwood, PA. He was predeceased by his dad, Robert; his mom, Shirley and his sister, Diane all of Stratford, CT.
All services were private and entrusted to The William R. McDonald Funeral Home, Stratford, CT. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request that any memorial contributions be made in memory of Mark to VCA Cheshire, 1572 South Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410 and noted "In Memory of Mark R. Orner".
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