Mark Donald Caldwell of Southampton died on April 11 at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital from cancer. He was 67.
Caldwell was born on October 23, 1954, and raised in Westbury. A natural athlete, he played football as a Carle Place Frog and graduated in 1972. Furthering his education, he attended SUNY Morrisville and Oswego, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976.
An early career with Time, Inc. took him from Connecticut to California and eventually to Chicago; where he and Suzanne met, married and started a family. Driven by a passion for reading and literature, Caldwell developed a career in school library science.
He returned to Long Island in 1996, providing the opportunity to reconnect with his parents and siblings and settle in Southampton.
A love of the outdoors peaked with Caldwell’s interest in sailing, a skill he practiced throughout his life. Always drawn to local waters, he served as commodore of Southampton Yacht Club. Friends recall Caldwell constantly impacting the lives of others in meaningful and unique ways. A lasting example of Caldwell’s legacy was his advocacy of junior sailing on the East End. He was instrumental in founding the Peconic Gardiner’s Junior Sailing Association, which created countless opportunities for local children to enjoy the area’s wonderful bays.
Caldwell and his family were faithful members of the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, where he served as an ordained deacon.
He is deeply loved and will be greatly missed, his family said.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne; sons Cubby and Henry; Cubby’s wife Amanda and their son Arthur; his brothers, Todd, Kent, Brook; and sister Alison. He was predeceased by his parents Arthur and Beverly, and brothers Scott and Dean.
A celebration of his life is being planned for early summer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton’s Deacon College Scholarship Fund (1stpresbyterian.church).
Staff Writer on Apr 18, 2022