Condolence: Words can't express our sorrow in learning of Mark's death. Reading his articles was like a visit with an old and dear friend. He will be greatly missed. Here's to a life well lived. He was an inspiration to all who knew him.
Jack Dowd

Condolence: Dear Blazis Family, I was both shocked and sadden to hear of Mark's sudden passing. I have fond memories from Classical High School days. Especially touching to me was his visit to my home in my mother's failing years where he brought her flowers. So sweet and kind.

I remember that even in High School Mark liked to hunt. He showed me the huge bow he used then.

And later in life, he asked my husband Barry and I to join him on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. He had more vitality in his little finger than my husband had in his whole body. We could not go.

And then, Dear Helen, he invited us to your home during the Classical 50th Reunion, for a wonderful dinner experience with your home-grown and prepared delicious side dishes and moose steak. What an adventure!

Condolence: To the Blazis family,
I offer my sincere condolences on the passing of Mark, an outstanding outdoorsman and citizen of the world.
When I saw the Telegram headline of his death, I had to put my paper aside and take a long pause. I had never met Mark, but felt I knew him well. Twice a week, forever, it seemed, Mark's writing took me places I'd never been, as well as to places I felt familiar with.
Some of his writing I'd cut out of the paper over the years as classics of the outdoor genre, such as his article on New England stone walls. Two outdoorsman friends and I would regularly trade anecdotes from Mark's latest articles and continue the discussions he started. Though none of us had never met him, we felt deeply connected to him and the larger outdoors-people community.
The impact of his writing may pale in comparison to his impact as a teacher, mentor and outdoor activist. But all many of us had from him was his writing. It was always of exceptional quality. I respectfully suggest his classic and best works be compiled and published in book form. He has left a beautiful legacy that I hope is kept alive. Peace to you all.

Condolence: Dear Helen....Perhaps you will not remember me but I remember Mark and you fondly. In 73/74 Mark was my student teacher advisor at Auburn High School while working for my teaching degree.We did socialize a few times while I was there earning credits for said degree. I constantly read his articles and learned more from him about 'nature'. Approximately a year ago, I had a question about a trout I had caught and died immediately and was upset because I always used "catch and release" as a fisherman (it may have been the biggest trout I caught in my 70 years of fishing). Anyway...I sent him an e-mail stating..."Mr Blazis...today I am going to "ruin" your day....you were my student teacher advisor 50 years ago (ugggggh)...do you remember me ? He said of "course I do and, what have you been doing for 50 years"!
I think what many of us learn in life is that we meet people and even if it was a "lifetime" ago, we think and remember them even if we don't see them for many, many years...but someday, we will all meet again. This was Mark.Also, I do believe HEAVEN is what we want it to be as long as it meets approval of our LORD....right now, Mark is standing waist deep in some pristine river way, excited to hear the "snapping" of a fishing line tossing a fly and watching it float down said stream.
Best health to you and family...and especially GOOD HEALTH o all of you.

Condolence: Helen, Matt and Jessica

I am so sorry for your loss. Your Husband / Dad is one of the most incredible people I have ever met and I am so grateful to have shared many hunting experiences with him and your beloved dog, Bri. The times hunting locally where he fell near me and broke a couple ribs, times in Galapagos and Antartica and Argentina and the Christmas parties are so real today as they were at the time. We will all miss him greatly and will always remember the fabulous times we shared.

Charlie Proctor

Condolence: Helen, Jessica, and Mathew

I am so sorry for your loss. Your Dad/Husband was not just my favorite teacher of all time, I also considered him one of my mentors. There are simply no words in the English language which can describe the positive effect he had on my life. For this I am grateful. He was a legend, and to this day, I still have not met anyone like him and I probably never will. I believe God puts certain people in your life to guide you. He was one of mine.

I remember being in the 5th Grade at Pakachoag and students were talking about the red team and blue team at Auburn Middle School. Kids were saying, ​"​I want to be on the blue team because there’s this science teacher named Mr. Blazis. He takes kids outside and has all these awesome things in his classroom like bird’s nests and snakes.​"​ That summer​​​, I learned I​ ​​​​was assigned to the​ blue team. I was so excited!

Having Mr. Blazis as a teacher created so many memories, too many to mention. I always remember him walking down the hall holding a ton of books and stopping his students in the hallway. Putting his hand on their shoulder, he would say with a serious tone, “You are one of my best,” and then continue walking. I look back on how that statement shaped so many of us.

Some of my fondest memories include, exploring the woods of Auburn Middle School to see what nature we could find, working on the Insect Field Guide for our class, bringing bee’s nests in for extra credit, going to Quabbin Reservoir to look for Bald Eagles, and meeting him on Saturdays with my best friend, Brian Agbay, to cut paths in the woods of Grafton to setup bird nets. Of course, let’s not forget bird banding! The list goes on…
He was an everything teacher, not just science. He taught us to public speak, be critical thinkers and even brought us to the opera. Many of these acquired skills I use today. My favorite memory was being selected for Team Amazon 1995. What an adventure to go to the Napo River with my friends. We still talk about all the stories 26 years later!

He instilled a sense of adventure in me. For when the opportunity presented itself to go on another trip with him, but this time as an adult, I was game. Machu Picchu and the Galapagos were unbelievable. I remember seeing him at the Miami airport after 13 years had gone by. He was still the same explorer. With his infamous grip, he feverishly shook my hand and said, “I’m so happy you are here. Are you ready?” With my hand still in his painful grasp I exclaimed “absolutely!”

During our Galapagos trip, my friend, Rick Krenmayer, and I sat on the top deck with Mr. Blazis and shared stories from the past. It was hard for me to call him by his first name, Mark. He will always be Mr. Blazis in my eyes.

He loved sharing the story of when he taught my dad, Paul, during his first year of teaching at Auburn High. He said “Dave, your Dad was hilarious. I would always catch him whistling outside to the milk man to toss some milks up to the classroom.” It was a story that would always make him laugh. I asked him, “Mr. Blazis, why did you choose to teach 7th grade? He said, “it’s the age that kids are the most impressionable and it’s where I felt I could make the greatest impact.” I was speechless as we watched the sunset.

I am lucky to have known him and have learned from him. All the vivid memories of our adventures I will surely pass down to my children.

The last email I received from him, he closed with - “And teach your little one to love adventure, discovery, never-ending learning, and the precious value of wild lands, wildlife, and great friends!”

Thank you, Mr. Blazis.

Corazon del Tigre!

Your friend,

Dave Stasaitis

Auburn High School Class of 1999
Team Amazon - 1995
Machu Picchu - 2009
Galapagos - 2011

Condolence: Dear Helen,

It's Monday, I've just returned from a field course with my youngest daughter at MassAudubon on the Cape, and opened my email for the first time in DAYS. Only to find this news. I am in shock and can't stop crying. Mark was the center of once-in-a-lifetime, life altering travel experiences for our entire family. Mark was the center of my oldest daughter's magical experience of learning to band birds. Her trip, without a parent, to join the bird banding team in the Amazon was a peak experience for her at the age when that kind of independence and sense of achievement is so critical. Our trip to the Galapagos with you both was so special. I can't even describe what an important experience it was for the girls. In short, some of the most important experiences in my girls' lives centered on Mark. And we were all excited to see Africa through his eyes, anticipating yet another once-in-a-lifetime adventure with him. We are all so fond of the two of you - it's impossible to fathom that he is suddenly gone. Mark is irreplaceable - a singular human that warmed everyone he touched, charmed and captivated everyone he spoke to with his passion, knowledge and boyish enthusiasm. I looked up to him as a model for how to live fully - diving into life and loving other people with no reservations. We didn't see you often, but it was a joy knowing you both were there, and that whenever we saw Mark he would greet us with that big smile and a big hug as if we were the closest of friends. I can't imagine how much you and your family will miss him, if this is how even I feel about his passing. And I know I'm not alone in feeling this way.

With a lot of love and great sadness,
Audrey, with Don, Elena and Lily

Condolence: Dear Helen & family,
An illuminating light has been extinguished here on earth. My 1st memory of Mark was parent/ teacher's night for my oldest child. He looked me in the eye and said, "your daughter told me you work at UMASS, can you get us a heart to dissect?" When I was able to speak and replied, I couldn't do that. He answered with a smile that it was okay, he could get a heart. For 12 years, no matter where I saw him, he let it be known that he really wanted me to be part of the medical team to the Amazon. When I was finally able to make the trip, I finally understood his energy, passion and love for the community in the Amazon. Those trips were life changing for all three of my children and myself. I will forever hold dear those memories of Mark Blazis, and the unique individual he was. His legacy will live on in so many, many ways. I thank you for sharing him with us. May he rest in peace and comfort.
Vivian
Auburn

Condolence: Dear Mrs. Blazis,

I knew you first as Helen Rawinski our neighbor and then as Mrs. Blazis in school. You were always so beautiful, kind and vibrant and now I see you married the same kind of person. I am so very sorry for your loss. What an extraordinary man. My sincere condolences to you and your children.

Janine Picard

Condolence: Sincere sympathies for your loss….everyone’s loss. He was a true jungle jewel!
P M