Mark Bookhout

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, Mark Bookhout passed away at home in Los Alamos, surrounded by those who loved him best.

Mark was born on June 30,1953 to Robert and Wanda (Barry) Bookhout in Oneonta, New York, the first of four boys. He grew up in Sidney, NY, graduated from college at SUNY Geneseo, and got his Certificate in Physical Therapy from the Mayo School of Physical Therapy in Rochester Minnesota in 1977.

 In 1981 Mark began his studies in Orthopedic Manual Therapy at the Institute of Graduate Health Sciences in Atlanta, GA, a move which changed his life in many ways. There he met people who were to become lifelong friends, including Marla Mann of Los Alamos, NM, who became his wife in 1983. After graduating from IGHS with specialized Master of Science degrees, the couple married and moved to Minneapolis, MN, where Mark and Don Darling, another IGHS graduate, became partners in a practice they named Physical Therapy Orthopedic Specialists. The Practice of three rapidly grew, with a reputation as a place to learn and grow and provide the very best in Physical Therapy, especially for people with spinal problems.

Mark never stopped thinking, learning and teaching, as his creative mind was always seeking better ways to help people. Almost daily, at the dinner table, he would say, “I discovered something new today!” Marla often wondered what other people talked about at dinner.

Mark had a great talent for teaching, sharing his discoveries with PTs, Osteopaths and other medical professionals. He became an Adjunct Professor in the Continuing Education Department of the School of Osteopathic Medicine at Michigan State University and traveled extensively to teach in PT Clinics throughout the Country, eventually creating his own business, Bookhout Seminars, which continues his work even after his death.

Much as Mark loved his work, his greatest joy was in his two daughters, Yaicha and Mariah, who came into our lives in 1989 and 1991, changing everything! Mark loved family vacations, especially road trips with lots of good music. We joined friends for ski trips every spring break, and summer usually found us enjoying Cabin Time in Wisconsin. We were blessed to be able to visit both our New York and New Mexico families often. He sometimes let the girls choose special places to visit, which took us to California, Chincoteague, Martha’s Vineyard, and at his request, Disneyworld.

When Mark and Marla retired from their Practice in 2019, they moved with their daughter Mariah to Marla’s hometown of Los Alamos, New Mexico, loving the beauty of the skies, the people and the land of this beautiful place every day.

Mark was preceded in death by his father Robert Bookhout, and is survived by Marla, Mariah and Yaicha, as well as his Mom, Wanda Bookhout, his 3 brothers, Jeff (Carolyn), Kim (Nancy) and Scott (Pam) Bookhout and their families, and so many close and wonderful friends and relatives. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

Three Memorial Services will be held this summer for Mark: One in New Mexico to celebrate what would have been his 70th Birthday, one at Sidney United Methodist Church in Sidney NY, and a joyful party in Minneapolis, MN to celebrate his life!

Mark asked that people help him to support two of his favorite charities: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, or The Nature Conservancy.