Mark D. Lange ’84

Mark D. Lange ’84 passed away on July 2, 2024, in Woodside, California. At Dartmouth Mark was known for his athletic prowess, wide-ranging intellectual interests, wit, and for being a devoted friend. Mark majored in English and philosophy, receiving an award for the best senior thesis from the English department. He met his “band of brothers” in the lightweight varsity eight, one of the College’s most successful crews and the second-ranked lightweight team in the nation his senior year. Postgraduation Mark moved to Philadelphia to row with the storied Vesper Rowing Club. He began his career writing for the Wharton Business School magazine, eventually putting down his oar to embark on a whirlwind five-year career as a speech writer, first for U.S. Labor Secretary Ann McLaughlin and then for President George H.W. Bush. Mark was the primary writer on many topics, including the Gulf War. His work on the 1991 State of the Union address was a memorable contribution. Mark moved to California to attend Stanford Graduate School of Business and met his future wife, Laura Vaughan, on a ski trip to Yosemite. Mark’s post-M.B.A. career included private equity work at KIII in New York and marketing for Silicon Valley companies such as BrassRing, PeopleSoft, SAP, and Area 1 Security, where he excelled at developing teams, mentoring colleagues, and conducting strategic planning. Mark is survived by Laura; children Emerson, Jenna, and John; and father John ’57.