Mark Steven Hess, aka The Duke, passed away peacefully at home on March 19, 2021. He was born March 30, 1951 in York, PA and was a 1969 graduate of Red Lion Area Senior High School.
Mark spent much of his life behind the bar at The Dutch Club and as the owner of The Veterans Political Association (aka ADA’s). Since his retirement in 2007, he relished his role as full-time babysitter (and “Dukie”) for his beloved grandchildren. He was a furniture maker; an avid cyclist and runner; a tropical traveler; and a guerilla landscape artist. Yorkers may be familiar with his infamous pieces: the Rail Trail ghost bike and alligator stones, the Church Road “death of democracy” front lawn cemetery, and the larger-than-life 2020 Trump Baby balloon. If you are lucky, you have a Mark Hess-made garden stone or decorative bicycle adorning your lawn.
Celebrating Mark’s life are his wife of 40 years, Linda (Schaffer); his children Meagan Given (Philip) and Max Hess; his grandchildren, Holden and Gatsby Feeser; his siblings, Cynthia Craley (Kim), Nancy Crumbacker, and Richard Hess; five siblings in-law and their partners; 10 nieces and nephews and their partners; 16 great nieces and nephews; and former ADA’s patrons who knew him as one of the most generous men in town. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mabel Hess; father, Richard Hess; mother, Doris Hess Raber; stepfather, Mark Raber; and brothers-in-law, Fred Crumbacker and Mike Schaffer.
Mark was a devoted reader and cinephile. He loved the beach. His signature facial hair was the envy of many men. He described himself in his Twitter profile as, “Old Guy, left of Lenin, wannabe cancer survivor.”
Shortly before he passed, Mark asked his family, “how did I do?” You did real good, Duke.
Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Mark’s grandchildren’s school: York Academy Foundation, 32 W. North St., York, PA 17401 or making a gift to the dog park started by his granddaughter: York City Parks Conservancy, Attn: Pal’s Park, 15 E. Philadelphia St., York, PA 17401.
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