Arne Mark

Mark, Arne
Arne Mark of Essex CT and Båstad Sweden died peacefully on May 15th at Middlesex Hospital due to complications with his heart.
Arne was an amazing man. He was born in 1928 in Malmö Sweden and grew up on the southern coastal areas of Sweden. He was utterly cherished by his late parents, Erik & Hildur Mark and his late sister Birgit Mark. He was a dashing and handsome man who did well in school, participated in the military, excelled in business, made great friends and among other accomplishments, was an avid tennis player. He even played the King of Sweden during his teen years.
Arne met the love of his life at a dance during a break from military training. The love story between him and his wife Gun endured for 62 years. Together they raised three children, moved to the United States, built a successful company, made countless friends, and improved the lives of countless more.
Arne's professional career began with a large Swedish industrial firm, ASEA (which later became ABB) and ended working with the Export Rådet (Swedish Trade Council) as Swedish Trade Commissioner to the United States. At ASEA, Arne was brought to the United States to build and develop the North American division of this industrial giant. He received his MBA at the Sloan School of Management at MIT and took the helm as ASEA's North American President in the early 1960's. He successfully grew the business by negotiating large sales of train locomotives, industrial robotics and electrical distribution equipment to industries across the US. He remained as President of the company through the early 1980's when he moved to Chicago to work with the Swedish Trade Council. With his unique understanding of both Swedish and American business practices, he was highly successful at the Trade Council in bringing new Swedish companies into the United States.
Arne had many talents and virtues. He was incredibly smart, thoroughly principled, had a keen sense of design, an unshakable commitment to family and above all, he had a deeply thoughtful way about him that always provided a no-nonsense sense of comfort to everyone that he touched.
Arne is survived by his loving wife Gun, his three children, Tom Mark, Sue Follett, Nick Mark, his six Grandchildren and one Great-Grandchild.
A celebration of his life is planned for June 8th between 4-6 PM at the Griswold Inn in Essex Connecticut.