Mark Steven Hess

Mark Steven Hess, aka The Duke, passed away peacefully at home on March 19, 2021. He was
born March 30, 1951 in York, PA and was a 1969 graduate of Red Lion Area Senior High
School.

Mark spent much of his life behind the bar at The Dutch Club and as the owner of The Veterans
Political Association (aka ADA’s). Since his retirement in 2007, he relished his role as full-time
babysitter (and “Dukie”) for his beloved grandchildren. He was a furniture maker; an avid cyclist
and runner; a tropical traveler; and a guerilla landscape artist. Yorkers may be familiar with his
infamous pieces: the Rail Trail ghost bike and alligator stones, the Church Road “death of
democracy” front lawn cemetery, and the larger-than-life 2020 Trump Baby balloon. If you are
lucky, you have a Mark Hess-made garden stone or decorative bicycle adorning your lawn.

Celebrating Mark’s life are his wife of 40 years, Linda (Schaffer); his children Meagan Given
(Philip) and Max Hess; his grandchildren, Holden and Gatsby Feeser; his siblings, Cynthia
Craley (Kim), Nancy Crumbacker, and Richard Hess; five siblings in-law and their partners; 10
nieces and nephews and their partners; 16 great nieces and nephews; and former ADA’s
patrons who knew him as one of the most generous men in town. He was preceded in death by
his grandmother, Mabel Hess; father, Richard Hess; mother, Doris (Shelly) Hess Raber;
stepfather, Mark Raber; and brothers-in-law, Fred Crumbacker and Mike Schaffer.

Mark was a devoted reader and cinephile. He loved the beach. His signature facial hair was the
envy of many men. He described himself in his Twitter profile as, “Old Guy, left of Lenin,
wannabe cancer survivor.”

Shortly before he passed, Mark asked his family, “how did I do?” You did real good, Duke.
Funeral services will be private. Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors, Inc., 863 South George
Street, York, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Mark’s grandchildren’s school: York Academy
Foundation, 32 W. North St., York, PA 17401 or making a gift to the dog park started by his
granddaughter: York City Parks Conservancy, Attn: Pal’s Park, 15 E. Philadelphia St., York, PA
17401.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mark Steven Hess, please visit our floral store.