Mark A. Ries

It is with great sadness that the family of Mark A. Ries announces his sudden passing on December 11, 2022. Mark was born in Philadelphia on August 10, 1974 to Wallace A. (deceased) and Lynda Ries, and grew up on Kitchens Lane in Mt. Airy along with his sister Sarah Ries.  He attended The William Penn Charter School from kindergarten through grade 12, was considered a “Lifer” and graduated in 1992 (OPC ‘92). Mark was an intelligent and rambunctious student whose infectious smile and attitude attracted many friends that he would remain close with for life. He was also a gifted athlete in soccer and starred as an All-InterAc pitcher for Penn Charter’s baseball team. 

Mark attended Colgate University in the fall of 1992, where he continued his athletic career as a pitcher for Colgate’s baseball team. There, Mark once again made several lifelong friends, mainly with his fraternity brothers at Delta Kappa Epsilon. He graduated in 1996 in finance and spent his first few years after college exploring new adventures with friends and living and working in ski towns, including Boulder and Aspen, Colorado, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Mark went on to an impressive career in financial services, working as an analyst, consultant for Wells Fargo and, most recently, as a senior investment advisor for OneDigital.  He earned his MBA at St. Joseph’s University in 2015 while working full-time.

Mark was a man of many talents and passions. He had a love of the sea, instilled in him by his father on their family trips to Camden, Maine. Mark loved to golf, likely more for the camaraderie than the results. He continued his love of baseball by volunteering as a coach for kids with the Chestnut Hill Father’s Club. He also was a huge fan of rock music, with The Grateful Dead in first place among his favorite bands.  He started taking guitar lessons but eventually taught himself how to play. He became very proficient and recently realized his lifelong dream by forming a band, in which he played guitar and sang lead vocals in front of live audiences. He fostered many deep friendships with people he lovingly called “Tim”. 

Even with all of his passions, his family was his true love.  Mark and his beautiful wife Becky never connected while they both attended Colgate, but a chance encounter in an elevator at work would bring them into each other’s lives in 2004. Their bond was quickly obvious.  From Eagles tailgates to backyard BBQ’s, they had many common interests that allowed their love to grow into a deep, loyal partnership. Together they had three beautiful children— Charlie, Katie, and Mikey.  They spent their early family years in a vibrant and loving Roxborough community, then moved  to Collegeville in a quaint neighborhood where they quickly made many more friends. Mark enjoyed having the additional outdoor space to play with his kids and his dogs Henry and Ziggy, as it reminded him of his formative years on Kitchens Lane. Throughout all of their years together, they made so many special memories with family and friends during summers in Eagles Mere, PA. Mark cherished his time on the golf course, the beach, on hikes, and around the fire pit at Cozy Dell.  Every August 10th, Mark and Katie shared their birthday, having ice cream at the Sweet Shop for breakfast. 

He was a loving, doting father to his kids and very involved in their various interests and activities. He made his family feel special every day.  Ever the sportsman, he coached many of their teams and instilled the same positive values that his parents did in him. He saw and celebrated the true spirits of each of his children, and they adored him.  Being a father was his greatest talent. 

Mark’s jovial spirit, generous soul and warm heart live on in his loving family. He is survived by his wife Becky (née Noone), his children Charles “Charlie” Wallace (11), Katherine “Katie” Barbara (10) and  Michael “Mikey” Barrett (7), his mother Lynda, his sister Sarah Ries (Chris Walls) and his loving Aunt Wilma Ries. He will be forever cherished by his in-laws, Barbara and R. Barrett Noone, Bob Noone (Gwen), Megan Lutz  (Blaise), Genevieve Parsons (Kelly), Teri Noone (Dan Kessler) and his nieces and nephews: Grace, Barrett, Caroline, Eddie, Jack, Maggie, Sully, Leah, Nathaniel, Jonah and Maeve.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit the family Monday, December 19, 2022 9:30 AM-11:00 AM at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA followed by his Funeral Service at 11:00 AM. The Funeral Service will be livestreamed at omgcparish.org/live and www.facebook.com/OMGCBrynMawr. Interment will be private.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mark's memory to the ALS Association, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002, http://webpa.alsa.org/.