Mark S. Zoback, 54, of Tolland, Father, Husband, Brother, Friend, and Sage, passed away peacefully on Tuesday (October 9, 2007) at CT Hospice after a dignified life and a long, courageous struggle with heart disease. He leaves behind his devoted wife and best friend of 28 years, Ronni; two cherished children, Scott and Emily, both of Tolland and Worcester, MA; sister and brother-in-law Michelle and Michael Bank of Brooklyn, NY; brother and sister-in-law Bob Raphael and Vicki Moss of Foster, RI; sister Lynn Rocoff of Wantagh, NY; brother and sister-in-law David and Judy Raphael of Boca Raton, FL; and brother-in-law Allen Spiegel of Pacific Grove, CA. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews Melissa, Eric, Ari, Daniel, Adam, Robyn, Joanna, Marissa and Haley. He was also proud to count many special friends as part of his extended family. Mark was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 12, 1953, the son of Irving and Elizabeth Zoback. A graduate of Brooklyn College (City University of New York), Mark moved to eastern Connecticut to continue his education at UConn, and enjoy the serenity of his daily surroundings. He never once lost sight of the beauty he perceived each day; he also never once gave up on his hometown Yankees or his adopted hometown Huskies. An educator until the very end, he devoted his professional life to the staff and students he adored, most recently as the director of Special Education for Columbia Public Schools. He also treasured the many years he spent as a multi-sport coach for the town of Tolland, even through the trying times of his illness. It wasn’t necessarily what he taught; it was the act of teaching he enjoyed, in all its forms. Mark was a past president of Congregation B’nai Israel in Rockville. His faith and spirituality, as well as his unique brand of humor helped to guide him through his days. As Mark frequently reminded us, in a storm, it is better to be the willow than the oak. A little give can go a long way. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Advanced Heart Disease/Heart Failure Section at Brigham and Women’s Hospital c/o Brigham and Women’s Hospital Development Office 116 Huntington Ave., 5th floor Boston, MA 02116; Congregation B’nai Israel 54 Talcott Avenue, Rockville, CT 06066, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Services will be held Friday, October 12 at 12:30 at Congregation B’nai Israel in Rockville. Burial will follow at B’nai Israel cemetery in Mansfield. Shiva will be observed at the family home at 90 Elna Drive in Tolland beginning Saturday evening. Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Mark with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.