Mark Clifford Hollstein

1964 ~ 2023

Mark Clifford Hollstein, 58, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and revered professor and scholar, passed away Jan. 31, 2023, of a heart attack in his home city of Osaka, Japan.

He was born March 2, 1964 in Salt Lake City to Milton C. and Shirley Waller Hollstein. He attended Indian Hills Elementary School and Clayton Junior High School where he was student body president, 1978-79. He attended East High School, where he excelled in academics, debate, and madrigals and served as business manager during his senior year, 1981-82. Mark served in the Japan Okayama LDS Mission, 1983-85, where he developed a love of the Japanese people, culture, and language, which he retained for the rest of his life. He earned his B.S. in political science from the University of Utah, then completed his M.A. degree at Columbia School of Journalism. In New York City, he worked for GQ magazine, then TV Asahi, a Japanese television station. Mark earned his Ph.D. in political science with an emphasis on contemporary American and Japanese relations at the University of Hawaii. He married Yoshiko Sumida in Honolulu, Hawaii on June 26, 1997. He received a prestigious Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship to study in Okinawa for two years. He then became a professor of Asian Studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka Japan, and held that position for the rest of his life. He taught classes in journalism and Japanese pop culture and developed a course on monsters in culture and media that was always popular among students. Mark and Yoshiko were world travelers, dividing their lives between two continents and traveling frequently to Europe. Mark was also an avid reader, researcher, and writer who traveled to numerous cities presenting his research at academic conferences. He loved all kinds of music, was a self-proclaimed "Beatles nerd," and was honing his skills on electric guitar. Like his father before him, Mark had an amazing encyclopedic knowledge of history, cultures, and current events.

Mark is survived by his wife, Yoshiko Hollstein, of Kyoto, Japan; son, Kristof Sumida Hollstein, a university student in Leiden, Netherlands; sister, Helynne Hansen, Centerville, UT; nephew, Maj. Joseph (Charlotte) Hansen, USAF, Montgomery, AL; niece, Mary (Jesse) Booth, Centerville, UT; seven great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, John Hollstein, and brother-in-law, Lawrence Hansen.

A funeral service is scheduled Feb. 9 in Kyoto, Japan.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Salt Lake Tribune from Feb. 3 to Feb. 7, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Mark Hollstein

8 Entries

Etienne

February 15, 2023

I am very sad to hear of Prof Hollstein's passing. His class on Japan seen through western film helped me reconsider various biases I held and enriched my experience living in the country. His class on Yokai weaved historical inquiry with popular culture studies and gave me unique tools to analyze and understand Japanese society. I have vague recollections of most college classes I attended, but I vividly remember Prof Hollstein's. I regret not having kept in touch after graduating and wish I had another chance.

Keith Kunz

February 13, 2023

We extend our condolences to the Hollstein family.

Cordially, Keith J.l Kunz

Sara VanAlstyne Robinson

February 13, 2023

I was very saddened to read of Mark´s passing. We grew up together, being in the same neighborhood, elementary school and church congregation. Though we were just kids, I remember him being uniquely kind and friendly. It doesn´t surprise me that he became a professor. He was very smart as well. We were sixth graders during the bicentennial year of the Declaration of Independence. There was a commemoration state wide essay contest which he won. I also remember him singing as the tin man in our class production of the Wizard of Oz. He gave memorable performance! He had a great sense of humor and was just a pleasant, fun person to be with. These memories go far back. We ended up at different junior highs and high schools, but we were still neighbors and I was aware of him and his family. The East High car accident which took John was heartbreaking and I thought about Mark a lot at that time.
I remember Lynne, and Mark´s parents. I enjoyed visiting with Shirley a number of times in later years and getting an update on Mark´s life. My sincerest condolences go out to Lynne, Mark´s wife and son. He was sure a good one!

Robyn Davidson Shackelford

February 8, 2023

I was a student of Dr. Milton Hollstein's at the University of Utah in the early 1970's. He had vast knowledge, precision with words, and discernment in all subjects. As I now read about his grown son, I see so much of the father who I admired.

Liz (Boyden) Anderson

February 7, 2023

Mark was someone I looked up to and admired in Jr High School. We became good friends at East and I always enjoyed being around him. He was my big brother in Madrigals and I remember him "kidnapping" me one morning to go to breakfast and celebrate joining the group. Mark was a dear, kind person and to this day when I hear people mention someone being kind, I think of him. I am so sorry for his loss and I wish your family peace in his memory.

Wendi (Truswell) Brierley

February 6, 2023

I'm sorry about Mark's passing away. I just barely remember him. We attended East High at the same time, although I graduated the year before him. As springtime approached and elections were being held for SAE president for the following year, a girl in one of my classes announced that everyone should vote for Mark. And I did. We seniors were allowed to vote for officers for the following school year. I remember seeing Mark purposely walking through the halls carrying his books. There was something special about him, like he knew where he was going in life. The world has lost an upstanding citizen.

Michael Jenson (and all the other Jensons)

February 4, 2023

Such great memories! Mark has been around almost as long as I can remember. Always smiling, always cheerful, always supportive, always interested in others and building them up. Though the grief is deep and the loss is keenly felt, it's not without commensurate feelings of gratitude and profound appreciation for the cherished gift of his friendship. We love him and will miss him!

Yoshiko and Kris, please know of our love for you also! And that our thoughts and prayers are with you. And with you, too, Lynne!

With heartfelt condolences,

Kathleen Scott

February 4, 2023

I am so saddened to hear of Mark's untimely death. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Deep regards

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