Obituary for Mark Allen Santiago
Mark Allen Santiago is a son, brother, uncle, husband, father, athlete, minister, mentor, teacher, co-worker, and friend. He is patient, kind, gentle, loving, wise and a wonderful man of God. He was born on April 5, 1967, to Pastors Christian and Esmeralda Santiago in the Bronx, New York. He and his family moved to Wallkill, New York, in 1971. There he became a tremendous athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and track and field. It served him well as he held the high jump record for Wallkill Senior High School in 1985. After graduating high school, he ran track and field for Oral Roberts University and played college Football for Marist College and earned his Bachelors degree at Nyack College in Business Marketing in May of 1996.
In the summer of 1988, twenty-one year old Mark Santiago took a trip to Puerto Rico to bring his father and mother to a cruise leaving from San Juan. He found his way to a local youth convention, and there his beautiful love story began. He first laid eyes on Brenda Enid Ramirez on a Saturday night service, and this is where he met the love of his life. One night, when he walked her home, he immediately told his brother John that he was going to marry her. Mark always made it known that he immediately knew he was going to marry her upon first glance. Without speaking Spanish, he approached her and was divinely inspired by love to learn the language of his soon to be wife. Driven by passion and love, he flew overnight, unannounced to confess his love for Brenda—demonstrating his love for her family by staying and living in Puerto Rico for the remainder of that year. They were wed on July 11, 1992 in Caguas, Puerto Rico and moved back to New York and have been happily married for thirty years. They built their dream home and reside in the town of Hopewell Junction with their children, David, Emily, and Christian. Mark started working at Hudson Health Plan in 1991. He was continually promoted throughout the years for his faithfulness, loyalty, and Biblical work ethic. In 2014, he began working for MVP health care as Vice President of Retail Outreach. From there on, Mark grew to be the Chief of Patient Engagement and Business Development at Sun River Health. Mark inspired those around him; he is an articulate, informed, and persuasive speaker, motivator, and encourager. All of his employees were routinely inspired by his motivation and Godly leadership.
Mark is a phenomenal bass player, musician, and singer; he has been playing since he was 11 years old. He kept his skills sharp. His love for God, worship, and excellence inspired him to build the Rock of Salvation Worship Ministry. He has diligently worked to build talented, gifted musicians, vocalists, and sound technicians since 1999. Pastor Mark was promoted as Assistant Pastor and faithfully served as Reverend Christian Santiago’s right hand man. He willingly preached close to every Sunday and never backed down from taking care of his congregation. He delivered the Word of God with conviction under the unction of the Holy Spirit. His final sermon reminded us of the story of Abraham. It reminded us that in this life we will need to build many altars as Abraham did: An altar of praise, an altar of prayer, an altar of peace, and an altar of provision. He was sensitive to the move of God and took a selah moment to ensure that it would be sealed into our hearts. He perceived that in the coming days we would need this word of sacrifice. In 2017, Pastor Mark and Brenda were asked to oversee the Youth Ministry; and worked arduously to prepare and equip multiple generations of leaders to build the future of the church. He has faithfully served and blessed Rock of Salvation Church for an awe-inspiring total of forty-three years.
He leaves his parents, Reverend Christian and Esmeralda Santiago, his brothers, Rodney and John, his beloved wife, Pastor Brenda Santiago, his three children, David, Emily and Christian, his daughter in law, Janelle Santiago and his grandchildren, Judah Alexander Santiago and our second addition to the Santiago family expected in September. Mark Allen Santiago’s legacy continues through the many people he has equipped, trained, and mentored both in his professional career, personal life, and in ministry. Although we are all so surprised, shocked, and saddened, we do know and believe that Mark has most certainly earned his promotion to heaven. We are confident that he is celebrating with the Lord and playing the bass along to the heavenly host of angels, singing “holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). We look forward to seeing him again soon. Well done Pastor, well done son, well done husband, well done Dad. You have finished the good race; you have passed your baton.
A funeral service will be held for Pastor Mark on Saturday April 1st, 2023 at 3:00PM (doors open at 2:30PM) at the Rock of Salvation Church, 131 Cortlandt Street in Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. Burial Service will take place on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 at 11:00AM at the Woodlawn Cemetery in New Windsor, NY.
In the summer of 1988, twenty-one year old Mark Santiago took a trip to Puerto Rico to bring his father and mother to a cruise leaving from San Juan. He found his way to a local youth convention, and there his beautiful love story began. He first laid eyes on Brenda Enid Ramirez on a Saturday night service, and this is where he met the love of his life. One night, when he walked her home, he immediately told his brother John that he was going to marry her. Mark always made it known that he immediately knew he was going to marry her upon first glance. Without speaking Spanish, he approached her and was divinely inspired by love to learn the language of his soon to be wife. Driven by passion and love, he flew overnight, unannounced to confess his love for Brenda—demonstrating his love for her family by staying and living in Puerto Rico for the remainder of that year. They were wed on July 11, 1992 in Caguas, Puerto Rico and moved back to New York and have been happily married for thirty years. They built their dream home and reside in the town of Hopewell Junction with their children, David, Emily, and Christian. Mark started working at Hudson Health Plan in 1991. He was continually promoted throughout the years for his faithfulness, loyalty, and Biblical work ethic. In 2014, he began working for MVP health care as Vice President of Retail Outreach. From there on, Mark grew to be the Chief of Patient Engagement and Business Development at Sun River Health. Mark inspired those around him; he is an articulate, informed, and persuasive speaker, motivator, and encourager. All of his employees were routinely inspired by his motivation and Godly leadership.
Mark is a phenomenal bass player, musician, and singer; he has been playing since he was 11 years old. He kept his skills sharp. His love for God, worship, and excellence inspired him to build the Rock of Salvation Worship Ministry. He has diligently worked to build talented, gifted musicians, vocalists, and sound technicians since 1999. Pastor Mark was promoted as Assistant Pastor and faithfully served as Reverend Christian Santiago’s right hand man. He willingly preached close to every Sunday and never backed down from taking care of his congregation. He delivered the Word of God with conviction under the unction of the Holy Spirit. His final sermon reminded us of the story of Abraham. It reminded us that in this life we will need to build many altars as Abraham did: An altar of praise, an altar of prayer, an altar of peace, and an altar of provision. He was sensitive to the move of God and took a selah moment to ensure that it would be sealed into our hearts. He perceived that in the coming days we would need this word of sacrifice. In 2017, Pastor Mark and Brenda were asked to oversee the Youth Ministry; and worked arduously to prepare and equip multiple generations of leaders to build the future of the church. He has faithfully served and blessed Rock of Salvation Church for an awe-inspiring total of forty-three years.
He leaves his parents, Reverend Christian and Esmeralda Santiago, his brothers, Rodney and John, his beloved wife, Pastor Brenda Santiago, his three children, David, Emily and Christian, his daughter in law, Janelle Santiago and his grandchildren, Judah Alexander Santiago and our second addition to the Santiago family expected in September. Mark Allen Santiago’s legacy continues through the many people he has equipped, trained, and mentored both in his professional career, personal life, and in ministry. Although we are all so surprised, shocked, and saddened, we do know and believe that Mark has most certainly earned his promotion to heaven. We are confident that he is celebrating with the Lord and playing the bass along to the heavenly host of angels, singing “holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). We look forward to seeing him again soon. Well done Pastor, well done son, well done husband, well done Dad. You have finished the good race; you have passed your baton.
A funeral service will be held for Pastor Mark on Saturday April 1st, 2023 at 3:00PM (doors open at 2:30PM) at the Rock of Salvation Church, 131 Cortlandt Street in Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. Burial Service will take place on Monday, April 3rd, 2023 at 11:00AM at the Woodlawn Cemetery in New Windsor, NY.