The Legacy of Mark Satkiewicz
We were deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Mark Satkiewicz, who died on Saturday August 1, 2020 from a cardiac incident while riding his bike with friends near his home in Steamboat, CO. We first met Mark in late 2018, as he wanted to share with us details around the race he was planning for the following Summer. He asked Gravelstoke to be part of the event, and we are so glad we did.
Mark Satkiewicz with his daughter Mia and 2019 SBT GRVL Black men’s winner Ted King
Mark exuded leadership, and his vision became real last summer through generosity and storytelling.
We love this photo of Mark taken at the inaugural SBT GRVL, but not because he’s welcoming the winner. We love it because he’s standing next to his daughter, sharing the experience with those most important to him. Mark was a dedicated husband and father, and an incredible friend to many. In addition to being the visionary and co-founder of SBT GRVL, he also served as President of Smartwool, GM of Tom’s Shoes and was a long-time Nike executive.
The Satkiewicz family and close friends, in partnership with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, have announced the Mark Satkiewicz Memorial Fund. The fund’s mission is to provide gear and resources to Steamboat Springs youth who may not have access to these in order to pursue outdoor activities such as biking, snowboarding, and skiing. The fund will be a key way to continue with Mark’s quest for inclusivity in the activities for which he held the most passion.
“Every community Mark was a part of benefited greatly from his vision and strong commitment to equity and inclusion – from business to cycling,” said Mark’s close friend Ken Benesh, who founded SBT GRVL, with Mark and Amy Charity. “Through this Fund, we can now further Mark’s passion for enabling more kids to develop a lifelong love for outdoor sports and take on new challenges in doing so.”
In addition, we’ll be donating 100% of all proceeds at Gravelstoke the week of Aug 3, 2020 to Mark’s Fund, or you can make donations directly here.