Santa Rosa, California
1954 - 2017
Valentini, Ph.D., Mark A. April 5, 1954 - June 13, 2017 At the age of 63, Mark passed away at home with his wife Gale at his side surrounded with music and love ending his 11 month battle with Lymphoma. Mark was born in Ukiah and lived in a variety of cities in the Bay Area. Shortly after marriage, Mark and Gale moved to Madison, Wisconsin so he could obtain his Ph.D. Following graduation Mark worked briefly in Boston and then returned to his beloved Bay Area settling eventually in Petaluma. After stints managing environmental laboratories for a variety of companies, Mark started Analytical Sciences in 1995 in a mobile van located in his garage. Within a year he moved into a 1500 sq ft. stationary building continuing to grow to 6,000 sq ft. today. And he still has that van! Mark never had a chemistry kit as a kid but his love of the periodic table ignited a passion for science. As the owner of Analytical Sciences he was known in his professional community as the go-to-guy for unusual issues. One of his greatest joys was mentoring employees in their professional development. He also relished the opportunity to offer tours of the lab to budding scientists or the general public talking for hours about his analytical instruments and how chemicals are found everywhere in our daily life - good or bad. As deep as Mark's passion was for science he was more than that - an avid reader, deer hunter, abalone diver, traveler, stargazer, educator, Sea Rancher and loving Uncle. Mark will be deeply missed by his parents Leno and Shirley Valentini, Gabriel and Stephanie Goshtigian, and Dan Rosen, in addition to brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to being survived by Gale, his wife of 39 years, he is survived by his feline buddies, Rocket, Tesla, and Zena. Mark was predeceased by his brother Michael and mother Doris Henrichs. Family and friends are invited to an open house in honor of Mark on Saturday, June 24th. For more details, please contact the family or Analytical Sciences. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to COTS Petaluma Kitchen, P.O. Box 2744, Petaluma, CA 94953 or to the Sonoma Humane Society - Feline Care Program, 5345 Hwy 12 West, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.
I learned today of Mark's passing. We worked together at Pace in the early 90's - Mark on the west coast and me in the southeast. I enjoyed working with and talking to Mark. Our jobs took us to Minneapolis for corporate meetings and we often shared meals during those trips. I'm saddened to hear of his passing. I did not meet Gale but offer my condolences for her loss.
Tom Jackman
August 28, 2017 | Tampa, FL
Very saddened to hear about Marks passing. I had done business with Mark and his lab over many years representing Varian and SCIEX and had many good lunches in downtown Petaluma together. He was always pleasure, good humored and an astute/fair businessman.
My sincere condolences to Gale, Mark's family and close friends.
Mike Driscoll
July 31, 2017 | El Dorado Hills, CA
I am sorry to be so late in adding my condolences, but I just learned of Mark's passing from a colleague. I worked with Mark during his tenure at Pace laboratories and later when he had his own firm, Analytical Sciences. Mark was an outstanding chemist with an unquenchable curiosity and a unique ability to solve complex problems. This carried over to Analytical Sciences which where he took on the tough analytical problems, serving his clients well. Beyond that, Mark was a good and decent man...
David Kennedy
July 31, 2017 | Palm Springs, CA
I am deeply sad to hear of Mark's passing. A kind and humble Man. He probably worked on close to 500 projects for me over the years. There was no professional I trusted more in the environmental consulting field. Mark was always kind to me and I will very much miss talking with him. God Bless .....
Bill Wiggins
June 24, 2017 | Windsor, CA
Remembered By
Raylene and Don Lucchesi
June 24, 2017 | Talmage, CA
Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this time.
Adobe Creek Funeral Home
June 22, 2017 | Petaluma, CA
I was saddened to read Mark's obituary. We took organic chemistry classes together at Berkeley in the 1970s. He was from Ukiah, I was from Comptche. We were both in chemistry because we liked it. We both liked to hunt deer too, and trade stories. Things that college students do in their early 20s. I am glad to see he was able to pursue his interest in chemistry. I often wondered, and asked people in Ukiah about Mark. Mark was a good person. RIP, buddy.
George Hollister
June 18, 2017 | Comptche | Classmate
