We first spoke in June of 2014 but didn’t go on our first date till September 12, 2014! From our first date we knew there was something very special!


Mark was working with Fender Music when he first met Elise and was commuting to Connecticut each week for KMC Percussion Brands. Their weekly schedule consisted of Mark flying out on Sunday night and returning Thursday or Friday. Weekends together were precious! Mark is a Seattle native and loves all Seattle sports particularly the Washington Huskies & Sehawks Football teams! Elise has been a USC Trojan for many years, and eventually conceded to Huskies Football.


Mark was a rock n roll musician (during the 70's-80’s)...was even on American Bandstand multiple times, who remembers that show?. After hanging up touring in the 90's he began working in the music industry, launching a stellar career spanning over 30+ years (and still going strong!) with: Guitar Center, Fender, DW Drums and now Roland Music!


Elise worked in sports and entertainment, primariliy with USC Athletics. She established a children’s charity in the late 80’s with Howie Long (Fox NFL Show), “Athletes & Entertainers for Kids,” which eventually helped to birth the international 9-1-1 caller training program - “9-1-1 for Kids.”


Just like any relationship there was much learning, listening, compromising, and growing. We promised to always “date” each other and not take one another for granted. Yes, there were disagreements and times of silence. Which gave us the opportunity to realize that “loving someone” is a daily choice and covenant commitment, even when the other is not being lovable!


Mark has 4 kids - 3 boys and a girl (Andrew, Lange, Kai and Keely - all adults). We have slowly transitioned into a terrific relationship inclusive of these 4 wonderful individuals! Weekends are filled with family meals, pool parties, and of course intense football and sports gatherings.


We both love golf, Mark a bit more than Elise! Golf is a big part of our time together. We have date night every Friday. One of our regular activities each week is attending Sunday service together at North Orange Christian Church. Mark plays in the worship band and has become a beloved member of the church. Elise has conducted several of the charity’s community events at the church - The Kathy Ireland Children’s Christmas Celebration and The Kathy Ireland Bootcamp for Single Teen Mothers.


We are grateful for each other and appreciate the differences and idiosyncrasies. Remember some things are best kept to oneself, no need to point everything out to the other person. Kindness and love is also about knowing when to say nothing.


“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”
1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-10‬ ‭