We are sad to announce that OSEA Lifetime Member Mark Petersen from Rogue Community College Chapter 152 unexpectedly passed away on Jan. 4. Mark’s legacy in OSEA and Oregon’s labor movement includes significant achievements in his chapter, community, and our state. A technology specialist from 2001 until his retirement in 2018, he was a classified employee who believed in the power of union members to make a difference. In this time, he was a chapter president and vice president. He also served as a Zone Director and OSEA Vice President on the state Board of Directors. In 2018, OSEA Conference delegates honored him with Lifetime Member status, OSEA’s highest recognition. He is survived by his wife, Brooke and their two children.
“Mark was my mentor, friend and catalyst for my union involvement“, said OSEA President Sarah Wofford who also worked with him at the college. “Being very human-centered, he was routinely identifying, recruiting, and mentoring members that possessed leadership potential. Very caring and compassionate, for me, he exemplified the heart and soul of OSEA.”