Mark McCann

Encinitas -Mark Edward McCann, 71, passed away unexpectedly, on January 21, 2019.

He was the only child of parents, Edward and Olive Ruth Motz McCann, born on February 10 , 1947 in Struthers, Ohio.

Mark graduated from Struthers High School in 1965. Following his graduation he attended the University of Louisville on a full football scholarship. He earned his bachelors degree in business in 1969. Following graduation, he moved back to Ohio where he married Karen Karstetter, also from Struthers in 1971.

Mark spent the next thirty plus years as a football coach, high school teacher and mentor. Mark had great success and gained the respect of many while coaching at seven high schools. During his high school coaching career he achieved multiple state titles and local conference championships including: Struthers High School Mahoning Valley Conference Champions (1980), Santa Fe High School, Alachua, FL., 3A State Champs (1991) and North Allegheny High School, Pittsburgh, PA, 5A State Champs (1982).

Mark, or "Coach" as he was called in Florida, also was an assistant defensive coach for The University of Florida and coached many college summer camps for universities in the Big Ten and the SEC Conferences. He was a mentor to thousands of young men and was responsible for putting hundreds of them into colleges and universities across the nation. Several of these athletes went on to play in the NFL.

Mark was not only respected as a coach, but as an excellent classroom teacher as well. While living in Boardman, Ohio he earned a MBA degree from Youngstown State University and taught high school advanced placement economics, government, and history.

Mark’s family and friends enjoyed his witty sense of humor and intelligent conversations. He was always the life of the party and will be missed by many.

Mark is survived by his former wife, Karen Karstetter McCann of Gainesville, Florida; son Ryan (Carol) McCann of Alachua, FL; daughter, Megan (Eric) Hazzard of Encinitas, CA; two grandsons, Austin and Everett Hazzard also of Encinitas, CA; and step son and daughter, Michael and Sara Holokai.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Olive Ruth McCann and his wife Mary Jane Holokai McCann.

A funeral service to celebrate Mark’s life will be held at Davis-Becker Funeral Home, 8536 Market Street, Boardman, Ohio on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Friends will be received from 10:00-10:45 am with a service at 11:00 am.