Mark David Heine

Writing obituaries for Mark Heine is difficult. We grieve his loss profoundly. His passing has changed us in fundamental ways, and we will always and forever miss him. He passed far too soon. But obituaries can be sad things, and there is just so much about Mark to continue to celebrate and love and admire and enjoy. He avoided any discussion about an obit before he passed, probably because there literally wasn’t enough life in the idea. And he was all about life.

The life that will always go on for those of us who love Mark is a depthless appreciation for a young soul who was overflowing with joy and laughter. He was always looking for the silver lining and the chance to be kind, inclusive and open-handed in all things.

From the moment they were born, he loved his two daughters, Charlotte Heine and Sarah Heine, with all his heart. And from very shortly after he met his wife Lisa Leighton, that heart became a home with hers that sheltered and warmed us all for nearly two decades.

Sarah became Mark’s muse early on, and the principal Siren in his “Sirens” painting series and book. Charlotte was always his adventuring partner, and together they built things, sent messages off on the ocean, and created worlds. Being a father was the most important role of his life, and the one he most cherished.

Many people knew Mark through his work, as an extraordinary, award-winning illustrator and artist. He worked hard at his art, and it showed. He was also passionate about teaching and mentoring; sharing was his love language, as they say. He benefitted from being mentored by his father, Harry Heine, RSMA, and his father’s artist friends, and he was always keen to pay that forward. He couldn’t have been more proud of his sisters, Caren Heine and Jennifer Heine, also both incredible artists, with every piece they created, showed and won acclaim for, every class they gave, every creative step they took.

Mark’s personal and professional biography information is on his website (www.markheine.com), for those interested in some of the details of his path. The website also carries the catalogue of his work. Whether or not you have already seen them, we invite you to pay a visit and spend some time with his lyrical and gorgeous paintings. He would like that.

He would also like to be remembered for having several dozen of his works included in the Lunar Codex, a digitized archive of contemporary art, poetry and other cultural artifacts from Earth that form part of a permanent installation on the moon. Mark was fascinated by space, and thrilled to be invited into the Codex project (in celebration of which we of course watched Apollo 13 again).

Never much of a reader or writer growing up, Mark found that he loved writing back labels for his paintings. And he started writing a story about the images. Then painting more pieces to fit into the narrative. Turns out, he was a great storyteller, too. And he left us a great story: his book, Sirens, is now being final-edited for publication.

When he wasn’t working, Mark was usually bringing friends and family together ... and usually talking. He loved to talk. And to engage. He heard you. He was curious about you. And he remembered you. He was a “dartist,” and after years of league play, played every week with his longtime friends Bill, Bob, Randy, Tony, John and Chris, often scratching his initials in the coveted “Bruce” trophy at the James Bay Inn pub. While talking.

If you knew Mark, you knew that fish feared him, every child and baby animal adored him, he had travelled widely, he was an archery champion and self-described “International Man of Leisure,” could cook a wonderful meal on any heat source, had the memory of an elephant, knew every Disney song and every Monty Python skit, song and line (“Every Sperm is Sacred” never grew old), he could rewire a boat and sail it, play a guitar, renovate a house and fix almost anything, take on all comers at conkers, pilot a kayak in the surf, and carve outrageously inventive jack-o’-lanterns. He loved water-balloon and snowball fights with the neighbours, trips to Europe or to visit family or out to Tofino with the kids, visiting the Beacon Hill Petting Zoo, vintage car shows with his pals, and the quiet of being at home.

Mark most of all loved being with Lisa and the girls. Sundays with Sarah, and online with Charlotte in our own private writers’ salon were his regular touchstones as his health declined over the last two years. And we laughed, always.

We (Lisa, Sarah and Charlotte) so appreciate all of the love and support we have received from near and far, and most closely from our families, with whom we celebrate and grieve: Caren Heine and Adrian Gee and Bob; Jennifer Heine and Neil Klompas; Tony Leighton and Leslie Cameron; Max Leighton, Joanna Tulloch and Lou Leighton; Zachary, Laura, Grey and Charlie Leighton; and Adam Conlin and the Conlin family. We are immensely grateful for the love and support of our extended families, friends, co-workers and others as we navigate the early days of our new life.

No celebration of life is planned, but we may do that in the early fall. If you would like to make a donation in Mark’s memory, he would probably suggest the environmental cause or organization of your choice, or that you support local artists, especially emerging artists, by buying art! Or even just by including in your regular weekend schedule a wander through a local gallery or two. (Mark’s work can be seen at the Peninsula Gallery in Sidney, BC.) You never know what you might discover. And that’s the adventure in life