From Mark Spoelastra's son Joshua:

Dear Friends,

Today my father passed away here in his lovely but modest home in the
Sierra Foothills of California. There was snow on the ground and we
could see the trees which surround the house like sentinels sway with
the force of another approaching storm. We held him as he left us and I
know he had no fear and felt no pain, and even though his life was cut
short he found the strength to remind each of us that he loved us. I
will miss him greatly.

Regretfully,

Joshua Spoelstra

I apologize to any and all who would have liked to know but were not
notified as to the worsening state of my fathers health, I was only able to notify a few of you last week with the following note:

/I am writing to you on my fathers' behalf he has become gravely ill and
because of this he has been admitted to the Hospital. Soon we will be
bringing him home for Hospice care. What we thought was back pain from
years of guitar playing and driving was miss-diagnosed and the cancer
spread from his pancreas to his liver and lungs, it has moved very
rapidly. /
/This disease has affected so many people that we have known and loved
over the years and we are humbled by their shared pain and suffering. As
our family comes together over our fathers' illness we find him
constantly in our hearts, remembrances and prayers just as we hope Mark
will be in yours in the coming days./
//
/Warmest Regards,/

/Joshua Spoelstra/

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http://www.markspoelstra.net