Mark John Perrizo, born December 15, 1949, at Saint Francis Hospital in Lynwood, California, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in Lake Forest, California, at the age of 76.

Mark was preceded in death by his father, Wayne William Perrizo, and his mother, Arline Fae Rendall. He is survived by his four siblings: Jerry Perrizo, Katherine Fontana, Mary Kennedy, and Julie Johnson.

Mark attended Saint Raymond Elementary School and Saint Pius X High School in Downey, California. At Saint Pius X, he excelled both academically and athletically. He enrolled in honors classes, served as senior class president, and lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. A true scholar-athlete, Mark's dedication earned him admission to Santa Clara University, where he completed both his undergraduate and law degrees.

On August 26, 1972, Mark married his high school sweetheart, Carol Ann Mauerhan. After graduating from law school, Mark and Carol settled in Downey, California, where Mark joined the law firm of Wilson and Wilson, which later became Wilson, Wilson & Perrizo. Mark enjoyed a successful legal career spanning more than 40 years.

Mark and Carol were blessed with three children—Nohl, Nathan, and Rachael. In 1981, the family relocated to Irvine, California, where they lived for nearly 35 years. Mark was a proud grandfather to eight grandchildren: Jacob, Bailey, Che, Joaquin, Nolan, Lucia, Gavin, and Colbie.

Mark never sat idle and possessed a deep passion for achievement. As a young adult, he took up running, initially setting a goal to complete a 5K. That goal quickly expanded to 10Ks, half marathons, and full marathons. His determination led him to complete 10 marathons in a single year. Seeking an even greater challenge, Mark turned to triathlons, ultimately completing the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, in 1982.

As injuries from years of intense training accumulated, Mark redirected his drive toward dog training. What began as a search for a good hunting dog evolved into a lifelong passion for field trials. Over several decades, Mark raised, trained, and competed with Labrador retrievers. He served as president of a local retriever club and became a respected judge within the field trial community. Always striving for excellence, Mark fulfilled his goal of taking dogs to the national field trials—accomplishing this remarkable feat with two dogs.

Mark's strong work ethic was evident from a young age. His first job was delivering newspapers in Downey, California. One morning on his paper route, Mark noticed smoke coming from a nearby home. He alerted the residents and contacted the fire department, helping save the family and limit damage to their property. He was later recognized in the local newspaper for his actions.

Mark also loved to hunt, traveling to remote areas of Alaska, the plains of Wyoming, and the mountains of Tennessee. This love for hunting was passed down to his sons and grandsons and remains a cherished family tradition that his grandsons eagerly anticipate each year.

True to his nature, Mark was never without a goal. In the early 2000s, he undertook a major remodel of the family home in Irvine, testing his family's patience by serving as his own general contractor. Though the project took many months, Mark ultimately created a warm and inviting home, perfect for entertaining—one of his greatest joys.

Mark loved being surrounded by family and friends. He expressed his creativity through cooking and took great pride in hosting others. For decades, he hosted the family's cherished Thanksgiving dinners, intentionally preparing four times as much food as needed and providing to-go containers so everyone could take leftovers home. Everyone was always welcome in the home of Mark and Carol; guests were never turned away. They lived by the motto, "the more, the merrier."

Mark lived a driven and accomplished life and strove to be the best at everything he did. He held high expectations for himself and others and was successful in all pursuits. He was a respected attorney, a devoted husband and father, a proud grandfather, a skilled dog handler, a motivator of fitness, and an admirable role model. Mark worked tirelessly throughout his life, moving from one challenge to the next with determination and purpose. He instilled these values in his children and grandchildren and was endlessly proud of his family.