February 15, 1970 – December 19, 2023
BEDFORD, NH – Mark Christopher Glenn, 53, of Bedford, NH, formerly Reading, MA, died suddenly of cancer peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital on December 19, 2023, with his wife in his arms. His young daughters were able to say goodbye to him privately in their own way earlier that day.
He leaves his wife of 17 years partner for 23 years, Jessica (Johanson) Glenn of Bedford, NH; his daughters Erin, Mia, Julia, and puppy Calie also of Bedford, NH. He was the only son to Judy Walsh and Lester Glenn of Peabody, MA. Loving brother to Kerry Glenn of Peabody, Julie (Brian) Suter of Florida and Michele Delpapa of Marblehead, MA. He was the son-in-law (more like the son they never had) to Mark and Linda Johanson of Woodsville, NH. He was the brother-in-law (more like the brother they never had) to Adrienne (Stephen) Bentsen and Liv (Dave) Berg both of Maine. He was the proud uncle to Mike, Derek, Scott (his Godson), Paige, Jack, Ella, Mary, Clover, Paul, and Goddaughter Ella Mascovitz of Florida. He was the “prodigal son” (nephew) to Aunt Joyce Eastman of Haverhill, MA. He was also the nephew to Uncles Jake Daley of Beverly, Roger (Donna) Glenn of Nova Scotia (NS), Reginald Glenn of NS, and Joyce (Eddie) Ward of NS. He leaves behind many cousins on both sides with special relationships with Jeff Daley, Maura Eastman, and Chad Powell. He also leaves countless friends and a military family of so many that has amassed over his 35 year military career. Mark was predeceased by his beloved grandfather Frederick Walsh of Peabody, and grandmother Mary Walsh of Peabody and Sherman and Sarah Glenn of NS. He was also predeceased by cousin Army Specialist Scott Damon, and Aunts Mal Cassidy, Mary McGrath, Tishie Daley, Doris Bishop, Annie Glenn, and Jeanette Glenn; Uncles Dick Cassidy, Mike McGrath, and Jimmy Eastman. Mark was also predeceased by his close friend and colleague, LTC Mike Greene whom he served with stateside and shared a very loud laughter-filled office in Afghanistan in 2010.
Mark was born in Abington, MA but spent most of his childhood in Peabody, MA. He was educated K-8 at St John’s the Baptist School in Peabody. He was selected by 2 nuns at St John’s who insisted he continue his high school education at St John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, MA because “he had great potential.” He went to the Prep on a full scholarship. He received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from UMass Lowell. He also received a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy from Norwich University in 2018.
At the time of his passing, COL Glenn was the Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations for the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He was posthumously advanced to Brigadier General (Massachusetts) and awarded a Legion of Merit in recognition for all he has contributed to and facilitated for our country and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the past 35 years.
Mark enlisted into the United States Army Reserves, Combat Support Company 3rd Battalion 18th Infantry in 1988 soon after his 18th birthday. He would have enlisted on his 17th birthday, but his mother wouldn’t allow it. After boot camp at Fort Benning, GA in 1988, he spent 9 years as an enlisted soldier. Mark received his commission as an officer in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as a 2nd Lieutenant for Bravo Battery 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery (101 FA) in 1998.
Mark became a full-time Active Guard Reserve (AGR) officer for the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 2009 when his first daughter was an infant and he was preparing for his 2nd deployment to Afghanistan. COL Glenn was an active duty soldier for almost 18 years.
Mark had 3 combat tours. The first was with the HHB, 42nd DIVARTY to Iraq in 2004-2005 and the second was with HHB 1st Battalion 101st FA to Afghanistan in 2010. He recently returned from his 3rd deployment in April 2022 where he commanded the 1st Battalion 101st Field Artillery which had units deployed throughout the Middle East.
COL Glenn was the Battalion Commander for the 1-101 FA (Field Artillery). During his command, he oversaw over 600 troops throughout the Middle East. He commanded the last artillery unit to exit Afghanistan on August 30, 2021; a 20-year war.
COL Glenn had extensive military awards including 3 bronze stars, one for each deployment, awarded to him for his outstanding contributions to each mission. His actions and leadership during the most recent deployment made him eligible to be nominated for a Legion of Merit but he declined this opportunity because he wanted a bronze star so he could have “one for each girl.” That’s the kind of human he was; he was always thinking about his children.
Mark previously worked at State Street Bank, later US Bank in Boston 1993-2009. He would drill with the Guard on the weekends and 2 weeks in the summer during this time.
If you asked him, he would say his favorite and most important jobs were father and husband. He will be missed by all those who loved him.
ARRANGEMENTS: Per his wishes, there will be a funeral Mass on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St John the Baptist Church, 17 Chestnut St, Peabody, MA with full military honors at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Peabody. Calling hours will be held on Thursday Jan 4, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. For directions and online guestbook please visit www.ccbfuneral.com. In lieu of cards, please write or type a few things you loved about Mark or a funny memory or story so a scrap book can be made for his daughters. Any Rated R stories will be made into a book for his wife. If you have any photos, the family would love those too. Please include any details or stories relevant to the photos. Please consider making a donation in Mark’s name to the Fisher House Foundation which pays for lodging for military families whose loved ones are hospitalized. This allowed his wife and children to stay at a hotel close to Massachusetts General Hospital so his wife could be with Mark every single day instead of commuting back and forth from Bedford, NH to Boston, MA. His family will be forever grateful for this opportunity the Fisher House provided which most cannot afford. https://fisherhouse.org. Our Military Kids (OMK) is also a non-profit that supports children who have parents deployed with the military. They gave each of Mark’s daughters $600 grants in 2021 during Mark’s recent deployment that helped offset the costs of camps, sports, and dance. https://www.ourmilitarykids.org/. A fund has also been set up for the Glenn Girls if you so choose. https://gofund.me/06ceaf94.
