Deacon Mark Hoeplinger fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, October 8, 2015.
The son of the late Frank and Rose Hoeplinger, he was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition and received into the Orthodox Christian faith at Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church, Lackawanna, NY in 1987. Seven years earlier, he and his wife, Dr. Christine [Stefanovich], were married in the same church.
A practicing ear, nose and throat physician since 1987, he and his wife, a dentist, traveled with colleagues to Uganda, Peru, and Guatemala to offer medical and dental expertise to those in need through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and Faith in Practice. He also served as a resident faculty member at the ENT Department of the University at Buffalo Medical School for over 25 years.
In 2011, he entered the Diaconal Training Program through Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. On August 11, 2013, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace, Bishop Michael [now Archbishop] of New York and New Jersey at Saint George Church, Buffalo, NY, to which he was attached.
Deacon Mark became a member of the Saint Tikhon’s Seminary Board in October 2013. He worked tirelessly to advance a number of aspects of seminary life, most notably the school’s married student housing project.
“When I first met Deacon Mark, he was excited about connecting with recent graduates of the seminary’s Deacon Training Program to encourage their support of the seminary,” said Archpriest Dr. Steven Voytovich, Dean. “He so often shared how he felt he had received so much, and now felt called by God to give back out of the abundance he had received.”
Michael Herzak, Board Chair, recounted that Deacon Mark’s untimely repose “has hit the Saint Tikhon community very deeply. In the short time of his service as a board member, he has been such an energizing force in advancing the seminary’s mission, most recently in working to fund the married student housing project so that future married students can count on housing in enrolling at the seminary.”
In addition to his wife, Matushka Christine, he is survived by two children, Stephen [Stephanie] and Alex [Melissa] Hoeplinger; a grandson, Joss Hoeplinger; a sister, Christy Ann [Alan] Kirisits and brother; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the Holy Funeral Home, 3855 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Monday, October 19. Visitation will continue at Saint George Church, 2 Nottingham Terrace, Buffalo, NY from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, with a meal served in the parish hall at 5:00 p.m. The Panikhida will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral service will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21. A light meal will follow in the parish hall immediately after services. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Hamburg, NY followed by a repast.
Special rates for those in need of lodging are noted on the web site of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Deacon Mark’s name may be made to Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, PA; Faith and Practice; or Saint Joseph’s Collegiate Institute.
May Deacon Mark’s memory be eternal!