Vale – Mark O’Regan (1943 – 2017)
It is with great regret and sorrow that we announce the passing of Mark O’Regan, beloved stalwart of the Australian expat community here in Denver. Mark passed away on Sunday, April 2nd after a courageous two year battle with cancer. He was 74 years old.
Mark moved to Denver from his hometown of Brisbane, Queensland back in 1977. That same year he married his wife Kellie, a local Coloradan girl who first met Mark while she was hitchhiking around Papua New Guinea where Mark was working for the Australian Government.
Many of you may have known Mark in his role as the Australian Honorary Consul General, a role he filled admirably from 1994 – 2016. He also received the Order of Australia in 2005 for his services to the Australian Government. Mark’s brother Rod also received the same award, making the O’Regan family a rare multiple recipient of the honor. Mark was one of five O’Regan brothers.
Many of you may also remember Mark from his annual ANZAC Day BBQ held in Sterne Park Littleton, which he had been hosting for over 30 years. Through searing sunshine or slushy snow you could always count on Mark and his bags of charcoal briquettes to ensure a proper Aussie barbie was had by all.
Mark made regular appearances at OzDenver’s annual Australia Day parties and Christmas Drink get togethers. He also made it along to many of the rowdy AFL Grand Final nights – even though as a Bananabender, rugby was more his thing. His cameo appearances at first slip for the Aussies in our annual Ashes battles with the local Brits will be remembered fondly.
We will miss Mark’s kind and smiling face.
Our thoughts and condolences go out to Mark’s wife Kellie and his son Rob.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, April 8th at 1:30pm at the Church of Woodmoor, 18125 Furrow Road, Monument CO, 80132.
OzDenver will be sending flowers. Please contact James Waddell at jkwaddell25@gmail.com if you’d like to contribute. We will also be holding a moments silence in Mark’s honor at our upcoming ANZAC Day “Beer Garden Barbie” on Saturday, April 22 . Details to follow.
1 COMMENTS
ausdenver-admin
Mark was a top bloke and a great ambassador for Australia in Denver for many years.
June 19, 2018 at 7 years ago