Mark Babor Horton

Mark and I were residents together at Children´s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. After many years we reconnected when he moved to San Diego where I practiced pediatrics. Randomly, today I was thinking about Mark and sadly found that he had passed away.
We stayed up together many nights in Chicago struggling to learn how to take care of sick infants and children ,but Mark was always positive and smiling through it all. Although we lost touch after he moved from San Diego, I´ll always remember him fondly.
Tom Neglia MD

As an assistant, I supported Mark during his Impact Coaching work he did for PHI's Center for Health Leadership and Practice from 2012-2022. He always was very kind and caring, a joy to work with, treating everyone as an equal. An amazing, giving human being. His contributions to public health through his health leadership coaching will have long lasting impacts for many years to come.

What more can I say about my precious brother Mark...I have always looked up to him and treasured every moment spent with him as he has always lived away from St Louis for as long as I can remember! Some of my most favorite memories are the times Mark would play his guitar and sing for us...I always marveled at him and always always dreaded when he would have to leave to go back home to California. I love you with all my heart Markie and will always be missing you but now in a much different way! Thank you thank you thank you for all the great memories!

I am a 2 year younger first cousin of Marks from Hermann Mo. When I was a kid I came to visit Mark and his family in St. Louis. Mark would take me to the local swimming pool and we would play in the local husing construction. He treated me with great kindness and allowed me to take along like a little brother. I will always have fond memories of my time spent with Mark.

Mark was our neighbor, always cheerful and friendly. When we first moved into our home 20years ago, he welcomed us to our neighborhood at Blackhorse La Jolla. Saw him on walks to the beach with Mary Ann. Will miss seeing him dearly. Heard about him this morning and our deepest sympathies.
Joyce & Suneel.

Thankyou my big brother Mark, for always caring about me since I was born, teasing with me, the love & laughter we shared so many times, always asking about Ed and our family, always there to give a medical opinion when I needed it, always up beat and so knowledgeable , loved life and lived it fully! You´re forever in my heart and I love you very very much,
Your baby sis, Tin

Life will never be the same without you.
I miss my dear brother Mark.

Mary Ann, Hello my friend. Was looking to get in touch with you and found this notice. My sincere condolences. Whenever I remember seeing you and Mark together there was always such love and joy. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Love you Buddy.

I worked directly for Dr. Horton, as his EEO Officer, as he took on the challenge of being the first CDPH director. Under his guidance, leadership, and support, CDPH´s EEO Program and PHAME awards were established. These were two of his accomplishments that I was directly apart of but he did so much more here at CDPH and outside of CDPH. Mark was always so kind, thoughtful, and selfless. His smile and positive disposition during the highs and lows was unwavering. A true leader that encouraged me and others to excel.

This years PHAME awards ceremony, the PHAME program that began under Dr. Horton's leadership, will include a moment to recognize Dr. Horton. I will always cherish the knowledge he shared and strive to be as kind as he.

He was always a teacher...

My dear brother Mark was an extraordinary human being, rooted in love and kindness. The list of attributes and stories of his character is considerable. He was a wonderful brother and I will miss him.
Nancy

I had the honor of working with Dr. Horton at the newly created California Department of Public Health. I was hired as the emergency communications coordinator for the H1N1 pandemic. I had zero public health experience when I arrived. Mark could not have been a more cordial and congenial boss, even as the stresses of the pandemic gave way to even more public health emergencies like the largest Whooping Cough epidemic in decades; and fears of radiation after the Fukushima earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster. There were triumphs too, like the exemplary work of CDPH epidemiologists that lead to the largest egg recall in US history, historically low infant mortality and the efforts to create pediatric botulism treatment where staff used their own cells as donors. He was an advocate for underserved populations and championed efforts to make healthy food and lifestyle choices available to the poor and promote breast-feeding. In his heart, he was a pediatrician. Through it all, he had good humor, true humility and something truly rare in a political position, grace. R.I.P, Dr. Horton. Sending sincerest condolences to his family.

I had the honor and pleasure of working with Mark as his special assistant at CDPH for 4 years. He was a dedicated public servant and leader and a terrific boss, and I am grateful to say he became my friend. He was also a lot of fun. One of my fondest memories is performing "Me and Bobby McGee" with him at the CDPH talent show to benefit the annual Food Drive.

Mark was a great Director of the Nebraska Department of Health and a wise warm, and wonderful person to work with. I assisted him with legal advice regarding the public health programs. He was a true public servant and a great laugher. We were so sorry to lose him to California. And now this. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

I had the great pleasure of working under Mark in his role as Director of the California Department of Public Health. He was extremely supportive of our work providing Professional Education for doctors and nurses on various aspects of breast and cervical cancer control. It is with great sadness that I read of his passing. He was one of the good ones.

Mark was a breath of fresh air, and a gentleman, as he headed California's huge public health department. I worked with on nutrition issues first through ASTHO when he was in Nebraska and was excited when he became head of California's huge health department. I'll share a fond memory of sitting together in a crowded hotel lobby watching election returns at some APHA meeting or another -- was it Boston? The election didn't go well, and he wasn't bashful about his disappointment. Thanks, Mark, for a distinguished, and dignified, career.

Best boss I ever had. A great person.

I am sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Horton. I was pretty new to the CDPH myself when he was appointed. He was very down to Earth and had an inviting aura and always engaged with staff when riding the evaluator to his destination. He made many improvements to the Department and will always be remembered.
My deepest condolences.

I am so sorry to hear about Mark´s death. I worked with Mark when he was Director of Health in Nebraska and I was Agency Counsel. He was a joy to work for-kind, warm, open to ideas and discussion, and incisive, and he topped it off with a great sense of humor. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

When I was dean of the Berkeley School of Public Health I had the pleasure of working with Mark because he served on our Advisory Board. He was a consistent contributor -- wise, and grounded in reality. We really benefited from his sage advice -- and really enjoyed hanging out with him -- a caring, kind soul. We will miss him!

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mark´s passing. We met in the late 90´s via Orange County. Mark was a collaborator with the County of Orange for many breaking emergency planning. Mark was personable, giving and a health care leader. We shared the commonality of being born in St Louis.
May he Rest In Peace and his memory be a blessing. Terre Duensing

My heart is broken in hearing of Mark's passing. We were blessed to be counted among his many friends and colleagues. During his term at the HealthCare Foundation for Orange County, he helped shape our giving benefiting women and children in central Orange County. We will miss his smile, his affirmation, and his wisdom. His legacy will continue. We shall speak his name with continued respect and love.