Mark Samuel Gold

It is with great sadness that we announce that Mark Gold unexpectedly passed away at his home in Berkeley, California on March 31, 2025. Mark leaves behind a family that adored him: Susan, Michael, Rachel, Jemma, Devin, Daniel, Matt, Judy, and Howard. Mark was predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Theresa Gold, and by his uncle, Nathan Feifer.

Mark was born in Montreal on January 16, 1950. He attended Jewish People’s School, Strathcona, and Outremont High School before obtaining his Bachelor of Arts at McGill University. He then attended McGill Law School, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Civil Law. Mark also spent two years in Paris, obtaining a “Doctorat d’Université” in Law. He worked for several years at law firms in Montreal.

Mark’s life took a major and unexpected turn when, on vacation in Mexico in 1980, he met the love of his life, Susan Davidson. This led Mark to relocate to Northern California where, among other things, he pulled off the impossible, passing the California Bar Exam on his first attempt, despite only having studied civil law in Quebec. Mark pursued a distinguished career working in commercial law.

Mark was smart, funny, gregarious and generous. When he was young and wore his round glasses, he resembled John Lennon. Later in life, he was occasionally mistaken for Larry David—both the physical resemblance and quirky personality. Mark was an accomplished backgammon player and played goalie in recreational hockey leagues in Oakland and San Francisco, although he was a devoted fan of the Montreal Canadiens until the end.

But until the end, the most important thing in his life was his beloved family. During their 45-year marriage Mark and Susan were world travelers, visiting some of the most unexplored corners of the globe. Despite profound challenges, especially Mark’s gradual decline in his final years, their devotion to one another was unbreakable. Mark’s family, along with his many long-time friends, are grieving this loss.

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