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Mark Kightlinger Obituary
September 14, 1959 - July 17, 2025
Dennis, Massachusetts - Mark Fred Kightlinger, 65, died on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at MGH in Boston, MA as a result of ALS. Mark lived most of the last 20 years in Lexington, KY, moving recently to be cared for by family as his ALS progressed.
Mark was born on September 14, 1959 in Holden, MA to the late Pauline (Fischer) Kightlinger and Fred M Kightlinger, Jr. He received a B.A., summa cum laude, from Williams College in 1981. In 1983, he earned a B.A. from Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, England, followed by an M.A. a few years later. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1988, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Yale University in 1991.
Mark was a partner at Covington & Burling (Washington DC) and was active in the firm's food law practice. From 1996 through 2001, he was based in the firm's Brussels office, where he advised leading technology companies on European Union laws and policies affecting the Internet, electronic commerce, online advertising, and data privacy.
The most gratifying years of Mark's career were as a professor at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law (2004-2024). When ALS forced Mark to retire, his fondest memories were of his wonderful colleagues and the hundreds of students he had the honor to know over the years.
Mark's life was an ongoing pursuit of knowledge. He loved books, films, and music, amassing libraries of each throughout his lifetime. Mark will always be remembered for his dry wit; his warm generosity of heart, of attention, and of resources; and his love of family.
Mark is survived, and dearly missed, by his sister, Lisa Kightlinger, and brother-in-law, Robert Salmon, of Dennis, MA, as well as nephew, Christopher Salmon, and niece, Karolena Salmon.
A memorial will be held in Lexington, KY at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Mark Kightlinger Scholarship Fund in the UK Rosenberg College of Law and help his legacy live on. Go to https://give.uky.edu, click "Make a Gift", and type in "Kightlinger" under "Select Your Fund(s)" to support the Mark Kightlinger Scholarship. Alternatively, donations can be sent to Compassionate Care ALS, PO Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 or online at CCALS.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mark Kightlinger
Sponsored by Lexington Herald-Leader.
2 Entries
Eric Martin
August 19, 2025
I will always remember Mark as my first college roommate. In fact, he was my first roommate of any kind who was not a family member. I remember his distinct personality and great sense of humor. Even to this day, I occasionally quote old Johnny Carson routines I first heard from Mark. At the end of our freshman year at Williams, we both took the same job, selling books door-to-door, in New Orleans. After Williams, we grew apart and did not communicate for decades. However, in recent years, we reconnected on Facebook; it was good to hear from him and to see how he, like myself, had evolved. Rest in Peace, Mark.
Laura Yordy
August 8, 2025
Oh, how sad! I have vivid memories of Mark from Williams, especially at the lunch table, where his quips entertained us all. He was able to laugh at himself as well; I hope that helped him through his time with ALS.
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