Mark Hilary Bernard Slater

July 20,1958 -- October 30,2026

Born in Chicago to the late John and Mary Helen Slater (née Neubauer), Mark was raised in Morton Grove, Illinois, in a home whose front picture window overlooked the forest preserve. This early connection to nature helped foster his lifelong interest in wildlife and conservation.

When Mark graduated from Niles Township High School West, he was already an accomplished skier and an Eagle Scout. He went on to Northwestern University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree.

In 1981, Mark moved to Silicon Valley, California, to begin his career at Hewlett-Packard (HP). Over the years, his work took him around the world, an opportunity he relished for the chance to explore new places and learn about other cultures. He made his homes in Sunnyvale and San Francisco, building a life enriched by music, travel, and the outdoors. A lover of many kinds of music, Mark played viola with the HP Symphony and enjoyed attending concerts at the San Francisco Symphony. An avid skier and snowboarder, he spent much of his free time enjoying the mountains and slopes around Lake Tahoe.

Mark retired early from HP in 2007, giving him more time to travel, snowboard, and pursue the activities he loved.

Mark frequently returned to the Chicago area to visit family and friends. He was caring for his father when his own health began to decline. Although he always hoped to return to the Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, he spent his final years in Chicagoland, surrounded by family and friends.

Among Mark’s many accomplishments and experiences, perhaps his most remarkable quality was his ability to form close friendships wherever he went. He had a special gift for making people feel valued and loved. His many friends, near and far, will remember him with deep affection, each with the sense that they held a special place in his heart.

Mark is survived by his beloved aunt, Judy Neubauer; dozens of loving cousins; and many dear friends whom he considered family.

Those wishing to honor Mark’s memory may make a contribution in his name to the Northwestern Medicine Transplant Institute, whose medical team provided him with care and support; the Chicago Botanic Garden, which his parents also supported; the San Francisco Symphony, whose concerts he enjoyed; or the World Wildlife Fund, reflecting his lifelong interest in wildlife and conservation.

Services and interment private. Arrangements by Simkins Funeral Home (847) 965-2500