Obituary of Mark David Pankin

Mark David Pankin was born on January 11, 1945 and passed away, at 76 years old, on December 17, 2021 near his home in Alexandria, Virginia. Growing up in Detroit Michigan, he would go on to attend Wayne State University, earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics, and completed his education with a Ph.D in mathematics from the University of Illinois Chicago. After being accepted into a postdoc appointment, he began teaching at Marshall University, where he met the love of his life and wife of 43 years, Mary Faith. 

After teaching, Mark continued his passion for mathematics with a rich career containing decades worth of  experience in computing, statistical modeling, and investment advising; his knowledge of which contributed greatly to his time with MathTech, and the eventual creation of his own company MDP Associates. 

Outside of his work, Mark Pankin was a devoted husband; possessing a delightful sense of humor and a fondness for math puns. He was a lover of travel, cycling, and baseball. He visited all 50 states, hiked up the Grand Canyon and back in two days, and participated in hundreds of bike tours. Much like his brother, Mark was also sadly cursed to be a fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball team, though this fact never seemed to bother him. Mark was a man with a wide smile, a cheerful disposition, and he will be missed dearly by all those who knew him. 

He is survived by his wife, Mary Faith, his sister-in-law, nephew-in-law, and niece-in-law, Diana, Michael, and Molly Pickral. He is also survived by his nephews, Sanford, David, and Harris Pankin, along with his great-niece, Rachel Pankin. Please join the family to share memories on Thursday, December 23, 2021 at Advent Funeral Home from 10am-12pm, and conclude at Oakwood Cemetery with a graveside service at 2:30pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to The Washington Area Bicyclist Association or the Goodwin House Foundation.