Mark Jason Shovan

Mark Jason Shovan

December 12, 1944 – September 4, 2026

Mark Jason Shovan, a gifted teacher of English, devoted counselor, writer, and lifelong outdoorsman, died peacefully on September 4, 2026, at the age of 81. For nearly five decades, he devoted himself to the education and care of young people, leaving an indelible mark on generations of students and colleagues at Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. His legacy lives on not only in what he taught, but in the countless people who remember how he made them feel: understood, encouraged, and cared for.

Born in Concord, New Hampshire, on December 12, 1944, Mark was the son of the Honorable George O. Shovan and Dorothy Green Shovan. He attended Concord’s public schools before graduating from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, in 1966 with a degree in English. He later earned a master’s degree from Antioch University in education and counseling.

Colby was where Mark’s life took one of its most important turns. There he met Rebecca Cummings, the woman who would become his wife and lifelong companion. They married in 1970, beginning a marriage that spanned more than five decades. Mark’s devotion to Becca was a constant throughout his life. Their relationship was built over the years through shared experiences, family, and the quiet constancy of a love that endured. As Mark built his career in education, Becca and their daughter, Lydia, were at the heart of his life. Together, they made a home within the Brooks School community, living in dormitories and on campus throughout his years there. His love for his family was not simply a part of his life; it was one of its defining commitments.

Mark joined the faculty of Brooks School in 1968 and remained there until his retirement in 2016. His 48 years of service became the longest tenure in the school’s history. Over nearly five decades, he became one of the defining figures of its community, serving under three headmasters and touching generations of students and colleagues.

A gifted English teacher, Mark brought literature to life through his respect for language, his intellectual curiosity, and his interest in the complexities of the human experience. From 1995 until his retirement, he held the F. Fessenden Wilder Faculty Chair in English. During his career, he also taught in the art department, coached wrestling and skiing, and contributed to the broader life of the school. One student in his final year suggested more than once that taking a “Shovan” class ought to be a graduation requirement—a tribute to the enduring affection and admiration he inspired.

Perhaps Mark’s greatest gift, however, was his ability to care for students beyond the classroom. He served for many years as a counselor, became Brooks School’s first residential counselor in 1979, and later served as Director of Psychological Counseling. He understood that young people needed more than instruction; they needed adults who would listen, offer perspective, and help them find their way through difficult moments. His warmth, humility, and calming presence made him a trusted source of support for countless students. His influence often reached far beyond their years at Brooks.

Mark’s love of language extended beyond teaching. He edited Visions of Voices, an anthology of poetry by genre, reflecting his enduring interest in the many ways people give expression to the inner life. He also served on the Small Grants Committee of the Independent School Association of Massachusetts and as a trustee of the Academy of the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Outside the school, Mark found pleasure in the mountains, woods, and changing seasons. An avid skier and outdoor enthusiast, he served several terms as secretary of Schussverein Ski Club, the second-oldest ski racing club in the United States. He enjoyed working in the woods and fields around his home in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and valued the simple satisfactions of time spent outdoors.

Mark is survived by his beloved wife, Rebecca; his daughter, Lydia Lyman Shovan Palermo; his son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) William Scott Palermo; and his grandchildren, Arabella and Marcus. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews in the Cummings family. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Shovan (1939–1999).

When Mark retired in 2016, the Brooks community gathered to celebrate a career that had become inseparable from the life of the school. The line of colleagues, friends, and former students waiting to see him and thank him for the difference he had made seemed endless. His headmaster recalled Mark’s extraordinary humility, his selfless care for others, and his remarkable ability to help people take a deep breath when life became difficult. He was, the headmaster reflected, a calming presence whose sincerity and kindness had earned him a place in the hearts of generations.

Mark’s life was a testament to the quiet power of devotion: to his students, to the written word, to the natural world, and above all, to his family. He understood that the most lasting influence we have on others often comes not from what we accomplish, but from the attention, steadiness, and love we offer along the way. His students carry forward the lessons he taught; his family carries forward the love that anchored his life. And those fortunate enough to have known him will remember a man whose presence made the world feel a little more thoughtful, a little more generous, and a little more kind.