Petition Circulates to Install Memorial For Glendora Resident

An effort is underway to erect a memorial at Finkbiner Park for a beloved community resident who passed away last year.

Community members who remember Mark Ryan, a longtime Glendora resident who was a familiar face around Glendora, want to place a permanent plaque at Finkbiner Park, a place where Ryan often frequented.

Ryan passed away May 7, 2012, of natural causes at age 64.

"Mark was a very special person in the community and he was well-loved," said Conway. "He was a symbol of community pride. He was 'Mark of the Park,' and what fitting tribute to have a plaque placed there in his honor."

The Glendora Historical Society has been spearheading the effort, and according to member Marcia Conway, the funds and material for the plaque have been raised. 

Conway said they are now just waiting on approval from the City of Glendora before they can begin installing the plaque.

An online petition to garner support for the memorial has been circulating on the Internet, with 563 supporters as of Wednesday night.

Glendora resident Zak Bushey, who initiated the petition, writes:

“Mark Ryan was a symbol of Glendora's great community for over a half century. No one knew more people and bonded with such a big part of Glendora and its residence as he did. Mark overcame what most people who suffer from mental health issues deal with, which is being accepted by a majority of people. He was not only accepted, he was loved and became a fixture for the community as a whole. We can learn a great deal from Mark if all of us had his approach to life. There was no mean spirit, only a friendly demeanor that bonded him with us all. Let this plaque act as a reminder of not just Mark Ryan, but also how a community can accept people in spite of their challenges.”

To view the petition, click here.