Mark Steven Strum

After a heroic battle against Merkel Cell Carcinoma and LMD, Mark Steven Strum (Melech ben Meir), a lion of a man, sadly passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Mark was born on March 30, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York to Lola and Myron Strum. With his younger brother, Neil, he grew up in Queens, New Rochelle, and New Jersey, where he developed a love of sports, rock 'n roll, and kicking it with his friends from school and camp. Mark graduated from Alfred University with a degree in Business Administration. He eventually made his way into sales for a short-lived but successful career in healthcare as a sales representative at American Hospital Supply, bringing him to work in Grand Rapids, Michigan and then the Greater D.C. area. Through work, Mark met his first wife Nancy (nee Kronthal) Shapiro. Together, they moved to Houston where they had two children, Samuel and Rachel, and where Mark co-founded Corporate Care in 1983, growing the company to a nationally recognized corporate maintenance and floor covering business. Mark met and married his loving wife, Tanya (nee Malev) Strum, creating a beautiful blended family including their children, William and Michaela. Mark was a passionate, proud yet humble, no-nonsense mensch who cared for the people he loved. Wherever Mark landed, he made lasting friendships regardless of where they came from. A steadfast connector, he brought people together and simply enjoyed helping others. He amassed an impressive collection of music, which he generously shared with those who would listen. With Tanya by his side, he enjoyed his time attending concerts, viewing and collecting art, and travelling the world. He volunteered as an ambassador for veteran's charity Combined Arms, in leadership roles at the Emery/Weiner School and the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, and as an instructor with Tanya teaching TRE (Traumatic Release Exercise) to those with PTSD. A man with an opinion, he always spoke his mind, be it politics, basketball, or which car model is the best. Mark is survived by his wife, Tanya Strum, of 20 years; brother, Neil Strum; daughter, Rachel Strum; son and daughter-in-law, Samuel and Laken Strum, and granddaughter, Lyla; daughter, Michaela Hollo; son, William Hollo; niece, Amanda Strum; niece and nephew, Jacqueline and Blake Pontello; Tanya's brother and sister-in-law, David and Orit Malev, and their children, Daniel and Maya; and his grand-dogs, Napoleon and Nessie. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lola and Myron Strum, Tanya's father, John Malev, Tanya's mother, Marsha Amdur-Malev, and Tanya's brother, Michael Malev. Special thanks to his skilled and indefatigable caregiver, Jackie Grizzle, and Doctors Wong and Glitza at MD Anderson Hospital. The funeral service took place on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 11:00 am in the Sophia and Jack Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 7445 Awty School Lane, Houston, Texas 77055. The service was livestreamed and can be viewed at the following link: https://venue.streamspot.com/f8d04b5b. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Innocence Center (www.theinnocencecenter.org), Combined Arms (www.combinedarms.us), Congregation Beth Yeshurun (www.bethyeshurun.org), the Margolis Gallery at Congregation Beth Israel (www.beth-israel.org), and MD Anderson (www.mdanderson.org).

Mark Steven Strum

March 30, 1955 - April 2, 2025