Sensei Mark Smith, 1956 – 2018
“Sad News. We are broken hearted.”
by Kevin Tamai
We have lost a dear friend, coach, sensei, mentor and so much more. Sensei Mark Smith passed from this world on Wednesday night at the Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family.
Mark has been a Sensei with Hui-O-Judo in Beltsville for about 30 years under the lead of Sensei Ken Tamai. They traveled on countless judo adventures around the country together. Mark touched hundred of thousands of lives in a very positive manner, many through judo but also many in his every day life.
Mark devoted his life to his loving wife Michelle. They were together for 39 years. Mark has two sons Blake and Tyler.
Sensei Mark Smith, was also the founder and lifeblood of the Adaptive Judo Club, VA Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Sensei Mark worked with every fiber of his being – to help Veterans staging a comeback from polytrauma, blast injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress (PTSD) to become Mark’s favorite term…”Warriors Again!”
Sensei Mark was also a driving force to help build the Blind and Visually Impaired Judo Program and Judoka across the Maryland/Washington/DC area; across the Olympic Training Center; and as a coach and sensei in US-Japan exchanges.
Mark will be remembered always as a Good Man, a Great Friend; and a Man whose kind deeds mattered in this world.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday at 10:30 AM at St John Neumann Catholic Church located at 620 N. Best Gate Road in Annapolis MD.
In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the organization that Mark loved. DCVAMC Adaptive Judo program, Blind Judo association, Hui-O-Judo Beltsville or any other organization you know he was associated with or loved.
