Mark Leonard Wilson passed away suddenly on November 18, 2020, at his home in Owings, MD.
He was born on November 10, 1955 at Doctor’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. to the late Leonard M. Wilson, Jr. and Mary Louise (Bohan) Wilson. Mark was raised in McLean, VA alongside his sister Alice.
Mark graduated from McLean High School, class of 1975. Following graduation, he worked as a boat mechanic in Florida and the Washington, DC area. Through his work as a boat mechanic, Mark met a lifelong friend and mentor, Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Ron Edmonds, who introduced him to the world of news photography. Mark had a natural eye for the work and quickly found his career as a photojournalist, first freelancing to get his feet wet, then quickly moving on to work for major news organizations such as the Associated Press, Reuters, Newsmakers and Getty Images.
When Newsmakers was acquired by Getty in 1999, Mark was one of the first photographers in the news division, staying and growing with the organization for the remainder of his career. Mark had a reputation in the Washington D.C. photojournalism community as an early riser, tireless worker, fierce competitor, and genuinely good-natured colleague who would offer help to nearly anyone who asked, and often to those who did not. Through his camera lens, Mark had a front row seat to history. He covered four presidential administrations from Clinton to Trump, US and World politics, the War in Iraq, sports, NASA launches and severe weather. His photographs have donned countless front pages, won awards, gone viral and recorded history.
In his private life, Mark would be found working in his garage in Lower Marlboro. He had a passion for vintage cars, motorcycles, boats and Americana. Mark couldn’t resist a restoration project. He loved to buy, fix, enjoy then sell anything that ran—or he could get running. His comfort was enjoying a home cooked meal made by his wife, Annette, while they watched Jeopardy together. On Sundays, he loved to watch NASCAR or take a drive to the Eastern Shore or Northern Neck with his late Jack Russell, Coco. He was a loving husband, proud father and grandfather.
Mark is survived by his wife of 23 years Annette Wilson. His children: daughter Kyndra M. Wilson of Owings, MD; daughter Sierra Mitchell and husband Nick DeFelice (grandsons Mitchell and Maxwell) of Owings, MD; and son Aaron Mitchell and wife Erin Mitchell (grandson Davis) of Richmond, VA; and his sister Alice Kennedy (nephew Sean).
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the family has decided to hold a Memorial Service at a later date to celebrate Mark’s life and work. Specific information will be shared and posted as plans are finalized.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mark’s honor to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation – the donation link can be found here: https://secure.cbf.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1502&mfc_pref=T&1502.donation=form1
Please click on the link below to read an article in the Washington Post about Mark.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/photography/2020/11/20/tough-salty-outside-soft-kind-inside-remembering-getty-images-mark-wilson/?tid=ss_fb-bottom&fbclid=IwAR0vk5N0a2tW6KGfyWMVkNIrWvveWRe–SW4m7XvIc_Z2O44TooWgG9X0TQ
