Mark is the son of two German-born parents, Margot (nee Storch) and Henry, both of whom came from Leipzig. They were able to flee Germany independently, arriving in California in 1941 at the ages of 19 and 20 years of age, respectively. They lived their lives as Americans, but never forgot their past, and the losses they and their families had incurred. During his lifetime, Henry kept troves of documents regarding the family. Mark, on behalf of his relatives, is committed to preserving those as a way of keeping the family history, and the history of the times alive.