Mark Medoff’s family leads public in memorial of legendary playwright

Mark Medoff’s wife and children led the Las Cruces community to honor his memory at New Mexico State on Sunday afternoon.

“This is really not a memorial,” said Ross Marks, his son-in-law, business partner and best friend. “It’s a celebration of a great life.”

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also had a special proclamation for the legendary playwright: May 19, 2019 is now “Mark Medoff Day” in New Mexico. Over the years, his work attracted accolade after accolade: most notably, his play, Children of a Lesser God, which won a Tony Award.

“He chose us,” the governor said, speaking before a Las Cruces crowd. “He chose to stay here. So famous and so talented and so successful, he could choose anywhere in the world.”

Medoff could have easily left for Hollywood or Broadway, but he chose to stay in Las Cruces and start his family. For decades, he inspired film students to pursue the arts at New Mexico State University.

His wife, Stephanie, remembers first laying eyes on him as a student, herself.

“My heavens!” she exclaimed. “That teacher was gorgeous and way smart. I never dreamed that he would fit into my schedule for the next 49 years.”

Debra Medoff Marks said her father’s work might have touched countless people, but that his family mourns his loss more than anyone.

“There are only eight people on earth lucky enough to call him ‘Poppy,'” she said. “There are only three people on earth lucky enough to call him ‘Daddy.’ Even though we are middle aged or very close to that, he is still our Daddy.”

Mark Medoff was born on March 18th, 1940 and died on April 23rd, 2019.