Mark Alexander Mathews

1926 - 2018

Mark Alexander Mathews

Santa Barbara, CA

Mark Alexander Mathews was born on October 3, 1926, the youngest of five children, to Lemuel and Regina (Roseborough) Mathews in San Diego, Ca. Raised in Phoenix, Az. during the Depression, his childhood was full of challenges and financial hardships, but encouraged by a loving and supportive family, Mark developed leadership skills and a love of tennis and singing.

At age 16 Mark moved to Southern California to live with his sister's family, attending Santa Monica High School and actively pursuing his passion for tennis. The following year he won the Men's Southwest Tennis Championship in his age group.

There Mark met the love of his life, Jean Benefiel, at the local Methodist youth group. Two years later, after a short stint in the Navy as WWII was ending, the two were married in the same church. Soon children followed with the births of Marilyn, Mark and twin girls Linda and Pamela. While trying his hand at several vocations Mark earned a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from UCLA, along with a teaching credential and later his Masters.

Mark's teaching career began at San Fernando Valley High School for two years, and Los Angeles Valley College for thirteen years during which time he earned a Doctorate at USC. After a move to the Conejo Valley in 1969 Mark joined the teaching staff at California Lutheran College in the Business Department, and served as department chair.

A background in Economics and Management made him a prime candidate to bring the college out of a period of financial challenges, and using sound business principles, Mark led California Lutheran, now a university, to operate in the black and become an important part of the community. Mark's ended his career there with a return to classroom teaching, his real love, and he retired after a decade in that capacity.

Mark's legacy includes establishing the Mathews Leadership Forum and a Habitat for Humanity Chapter at the University, active involvement in Rotary International and Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving on a number of boards including Hospice of the Conejo, Community Leaders Club, and Conejo Future Foundation receiving their coveted Civitas Award and he was named Man of The Year by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1985.

Quality time with family was a priority for Mark and Jean. Through the years they traveled extensively together and spent an entire year traveling with their teenage children and a niece through the U.S. and Europe. When grandchildren were of age each got a trip with "Papa and Nana" to the destination of their choice. The family cabin, named The Christmas Lodge", in the Sierra was the location for many holiday celebrations, work weekends and summer adventures.

The purchase of an apartment in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico led to Mark and Jean's involvement with the Salvation Army Orphanage and the U.S.-Mexico Foundation which resulted in their co-founding a public library for the city. Family vacations there always included time with friends at the Biblioteca.

In 2002 Mark and Jean moved to Santa Barbara and resided at The Samarkand Retirement Community. They cherished their time there and gave back to the community with the building of a memorial Prayer Garden given in honor of Mark's Aunt Hermine, a resident with them there for many years. Mark and Jean actively encouraged a number of friends from the Conejo to relocate there as well.

Mark had a sweet "homecoming" on October 27th and is now in the presence of his Savior as well as those loved ones who have passed, including his beloved daughter Linda and his three sisters. He leaves behind his precious wife of 72 years Jean, daughters Marilyn (John) Boundy, Pamela (Tom) Sutphen, and son Mark (Bonnie) Mathews, ten grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

We will miss our Papa but will always treasure memories of the generous, funny, loving, creative and wonderful man he was.

In his memory the family requests that gifts be made to Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County or to California Lutheran University School of Management's newly announced Steven D. Dorfman Center.