June 26, 1966 – March 16, 2011
Mark Bixby lived a full life, one that cannot be easily encapsulated in a few paragraphs. He was the way he was by design. He lived his life in Long Beach, CA, when not traveling the globe for adventure and growth. His home was in “the Hole,” both as a child and later as an adult husband and father. Mark was a natural leader in so many roles.
He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him. Know that his impact over his all too short 44 years will be felt for generations to come, and by many in his extended family, his friends, and his community.
We will miss you, Mark. May you smile down upon all of us and bring light to our lives through your generous spirit.
In lieu of food and flowers, the family kindly requests contributions in memory of Mark Bixby to any of the following charities, or to the charity of your choice:
YMCA of Greater Long Beach Camping Services Endowment, Rotary Club of Long Beach Scholarship Foundation, and Children Today. Mark served on the board of YMCA Camping Services, was President of Rotary Club of Long Beach, and was very supportive of Children Today, a non-profit co-founded by Mark’s wife, Theresa Bixby.
We encourage you to share your memories of Mark, and your thoughts and prayers with his family.
During the brief time I got to work alongside Mark, I was positively surprised to have met such a loving dad, a great friend and an all around beautiful person. Mark had so much passion to living, loving and caring: a passion for excellence!. The impact Mark left on the community, his coworkers and his family is larger than life and his legacy continues; just like what he always repeated: “Go Big or Go Home”- thank you Mark for being the amazing person you are.
Mark is a great loss to everyone who knew him; he was an extraordinary person. I will miss his professionalism, humility, humor, our conversations that encompassed a spectrum of so many different life interests, and most of all, that bright gleam in his eyes when he talked about his wife and kids: Theresa, Ryan, Kirra and Jessica. He always put his family first, a virtue of an incredible loving family man. He will be greatly missed.
For the last three years, I was given the gift to work alongside Mark Bixby. In this brief time, Mark became my colleague, business partner, mentor and most importantly, my friend. Mark, without realizing it, made significant contributions to my knowledge of the real estate business and more importantly was able to impart upon me lasting life lessons. Through his ever willingness to share a story Mark has left me with volumes of wisdom that I will carry with me forever. Mark ceaselessly made time for me to ask him questions and by no means would even consider giving a quick answer. He capitalized on every opportunity at his disposal to teach me something. Mark set the standard for selflessness, a positive attitude and most importantly, how to balance family, friends and work. I’m infinitely thankful for the lasting impressions he has made on my life.
What I will remember most about Mark Bixby was that he was always smiling – he made the office a happier place to be. He was always willing to help, always trying to solve problems, and always full of ideas. He amazed me with his boundless energy and enthusiasm for his work, his family, and, most of all, his hobbies. Unfortunately, I did not know Mark for very long, but I am so thankful for the time that I got to know him. He truly was an exceptional human being.
I only knew Mark for a short time, but I am a better person for knowing him. His inquisitive personality forced me to always think outside the box. His generosity in sharing his knowledge and experiences helped me learn something new every day. Mark’s love for his family shined in his Friday plans for the weekend and Monday morning recaps. His passion for the community was evident in the long hours he spent working on projects that returned little except knowing he’d helped in some way.