MARK J. BELSON

April 11, 1947 - January 30, 2015

Mark J. Belson, 67 of Overland Park, KS died unexpectedly on Friday, January 30, 2015. Mark was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Miami Beach, FL attending Miami Beach High School. He attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate, achieved his BA in fine arts from Indiana University and then attended Harvard for his MA in oriental languages with special expertise in Korean. He even spent a year in Korea teaching English and immersing himself in the Korean culture. He knew about six African and far Eastern languages, such as Africans and Korean, as well as Tuu (twee) and Ewe (ayay). He also was a sign language interpreter for the deaf. Mark also had worked on his PhD for a number of years. Mark was very theatrical. While at Harvard he helped produce and star in a mini-series presented on campus. He also appeared in a variety of plays at the community theater in Boston. He was an accomplished writer and had written two plays that were published books: “The Jaded Marsyas” and “The Silent Amidah”. He lived in Boston for a number of years and came to Kansas City to be with his family and take care of his elderly mother. Mark loved to exercise, jog and walk with his faithful dog Micah who he dearly loved. Mark was a gentle soul, who had a brilliant mind and was very quick witted. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Ann (Eiger) Belson. He is survived by his brother, Dr. Ian Belson (Roni); nephew, Avi Belson (Andi) of Skokie, Illinois; nieces, Ariel Belson Wolgel (Aron) of Southfield, Michigan, Leah Belson Anton (Meir) of Overland Park, KS and many great nieces and nephews of Skokie, Illinois and his special beloved dog, Micah.