Mark Frederic Goddard, a La Cañada native, went to join his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 19th, 2023.
Born on March 8th, 1954, at Glendale Memorial Hospital, Mark was adopted by his parents Mert and Jean Goddard. He attended Paradise Canyon Elementary School and went on to graduate from La Cañada High School. After graduating, he accepted a janitorial position with the La Cañada Unified School District. He served the schools and the students faithfully until 2003.
Mark had a very full childhood. His father, Mert, owned the L.A. desk company and also had a business in Hawaii so the family would spend many memorable vacations in Honolulu. Mark’s grandfather had a house on Catalina Island and Mark cherished his fond memories of living on the yacht, as well as visiting his uncle’s 1000-acre ranch in Hemet to go horseback riding.
Mark was a very social person and loved being around people. Working at the schools allowed him to interact with students and staff and build relationships. His smile was contagious on the campuses and Mark was known as a friend to all.
An integral part of Mark’s life was his involvement in the church. He spent his earlier years with La Cañada Presbyterian Church and then became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church was his spiritual family, and he relished the opportunity to join families in the congregations for holidays, birthdays, baptisms and other celebrations. Mark’s faith and joy were apparent in his interactions with various congregation members. He loved being a part of the large extended family that the church provided.
Some of Mark’s greatest loves in his life were his dogs. Rusty and Sammy were his reliable companions that he loved dearly. Mark is survived by his sister, Cathleen, who lives in Orange County.
A memorial service to commemorate Mark’s life will be held on Saturday, May 6th, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, CA, 91011. All are welcome to attend. We ask that if you intend to send flowers to the church that they arrive by 9am that morning.
