Mark Wesley Immelt, 62, of Hamilton, Ohio and the Vineyard, died unexpectedly on Nov. 25, at his home in Vineyard Haven.

Mark was born on Sept. 22, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio, to Rev. Robert and Betty Immelt.  He grew up and was educated in Columbus and Millersburg, Ohio. Mark was a 1962 graduate of Millersburg High School and earned his undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1967. In 1974 Mark received his J.D.D from Cleveland Marshall Law School. Mark also served in the United States Navy as part of the Medical Corps during the Vietnam War.

Mark spent nearly 40 years in the banking industry. Starting at Central National Bank in Cleveland, he worked his way up to president and chief executive officer of First Financial Bank of Ohio. He retired in December 2006 to spend time with family and friends in Hamilton, his summer cottage in the Camp Ground and winter home in Vineyard Haven, and his cabin in Whitefish Falls, Canada.

Mark’s philanthropic efforts and associations were many. He served as president of the South Bend Symphony, South Bend, Ind., president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and president of the Fitton Center for the Creative Arts, both of Hamilton, and was a member of the Ohio Bankers Association.

He enjoyed fishing, kayaking, sailing, bicycling, photography, watercolor, rowing, and restoring his 1961 MGA sports car.

He leaves behind his loving family, his wife of 39 years, Carol Butt Immelt; his daughter Alyssa Immelt Miller, her husband Burke and their three children, Mark’s grandchildren, Abigail, Hannah and Emily, of Hamilton; his daughters Stephanie Immelt and Julie Immelt of Vineyard Haven; his parents, Rev. Robert and Betty Immelt, of Edgartown; his brother Jay Immelt, his wife Helen and two children Johanna and her family, and Justin, all of Seattle, Wash.; his sister Julie Immelt Wheeler, her husband Geoff and their son Andrew, of Villa Hills, Ky. and the Camp Ground; his mother in law Waneta Butt, his brother in law Norman Butt and sister in law Patti Butt and children Samuel and Charles, all of Oxford, Ohio; his aunt Ruth Immelt Anderson, of Oak Bluffs; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

His gentle and generous ways and nature, his wildly funny jokes, entertaining stories and renditions of his daily adventures, the romantic gestures he gave his wife daily, his hours of reading aloud the classics and games of Big Fish, Little Fish with his grandchildren, his daily To Do lists, and most especially his lucky Fish Dance during fishing outings, will be irreplaceable and sorely missed. 

A memorial service for Mark will take place Saturday, Dec. 1, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mark’s name to his favorite organizations: The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association – Tabernacle Fund; Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club – Kids Trout Derby; and the Hamilton Community Foundation. A memorial service will also take place in Hamilton, at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs.