Submitted by: John C. Monk

Mark David Tulchinsky    

Jan. 26, 1947 - Jan. 22, 2008

SOUTH BEND - Mark David Tulchinsky died on January 22, 2008. He was 60 years old. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Nan Tulchinsky; sons, Peter (Hope) Tulchinsky and Daniel Tulchinsky; a daughter, Sarah (John) Baer; granddaughters, Abbey and Emma Baer and Payton Tulchinsky; and grandson, Jacob Tulchinsky. Also surviving are mother, Ruth Tulchinsky; brothers, Terry (Jill) and Jeff Tulchinsky; and a sister Judith (Greg) Prawat-Tulchinsky. He was born on January 26, 1947, to Maurice and Ruth Tulchinsky, Mark was a lifelong resident of South Bend. A 1964 John Adams High School graduate, Mark majored in History and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1968. He began his professional career with the South Bend Community School Corporation as a teacher at Perley Elementary in the fall of 1968, and married Mary Anne "Nan" Tomshack on October 24, 1969, at the Log Chapel on the University of Notre Dame campus. Mark served as a fourth grade teacher at Perley for several years before earning his master's degree in education from the University of Notre Dame in 1974. Mark began his administrative career in the corporation in 1979, serving as assistant principal at Jefferson School. He would go on to serve as principal at McKinley, Perley, Jefferson, Monroe and Tarkington through his distinguished 39-year career with the SBCSC. Mark was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Officials Association for over 35 years, serving multiple terms as the association's president. Mark was a licensed Indiana High School Athletic Association basketball and football official who also frequently officiated Inner-City Catholic League youth basketball contests. One of Mark's proudest accomplishments was officiating the IHSAA Class 2-A state football finals in 1983. He worked as a timekeeper for football and basketball games at the University of Notre Dame and officiated for over three decades for the Notre Dame recreational sports program. A lifelong resident of South Bend's east side, Mark was dedicated to the betterment of his community. He served on governing boards for the South Bend YMCA, Northeast Neighborhood Council, Urban Youth Services, and the Boys and Girls Club. Mark was a member of Sinai Synagogue and the South Bend City Council Parks, Recreation, Arts & Entertainment Committee. He was a frequent volunteer for Special Olympics and was involved in several community initiatives. Funerals services will be held TODAY, Thursday January 24, at 10:00 a.m. in Sinai Synagogue, LaSalle Avenue at Eddy Street, South Bend, with Rabbi Michael Friedland officiating. Burial will follow at Hebrew Orthodox Cemetery, Mishawaka. Friends called yesterday from 1 to 8 p.m. in the McGann Hay Forest G. Hay Funeral Home at 435 S. Ironwood Drive at Jefferson Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County Hospice, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637; or to the Educational Foundation of the South Bend School Corporation, 215 S. St. Joseph St, South Bend, IN 46601. To send condolences to the family, log on to www.mcgannhay.com.

Published in the South Bend Tribune on 1/24/2008.

Mark Tulchinsky    

Tarkington Traditional School Principal Mark Tulchinsky devoted nearly 40 years of his life to the education of South Bend's youth. And even after all that time, he never forgot a name. He had a knack of looking past a person's gray hair and crow's feet and seeing the child he taught so many years ago.

Tulchinsky, who would have turned 61 this weekend, died early Tuesday afternoon. He was in his office and medical efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

A graduate of Adams High School, Tulchinsky earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and his master's from the University of Notre Dame. In 1968 he began his teaching career in South Bend at Perley Elementary. Since then he has served as a principal at Jefferson and Monroe elementary schools and for the past six months at Tarkington.

Tulchinsky loved sports and began officiating basketball games in 1970 and football games in 1972. He continued to officiate sporting events in the area for more than 30 years.

His absence will be noticed almost immediately at Notre Dame as the women's basketball team plays tonight. Tulchinsky was a timer for both football and basketball games at Notre Dame. His wife, Nan, who retired recently as the South Bend Community School Corp.'s athletic director, is the official scorer.

Tulchinsky's passing is a great loss to the community he was intent on serving.