January 01, 2010|By Jacques Kelly
Mark Curtis Medairy Sr., a retired Blue Cross sales manager, died of a blood clot Dec. 19 at St. Joseph Medical Center. The Mays Chapel resident was 85.
Born in Baltimore and raised on Maryland Avenue in Charles Village, he attended SS. Philip and James Parochial School and was a 1942 City College graduate. He played varsity football and varsity lacrosse at the school and was twice named an All-Maryland lacrosse player by Baltimore sportswriters. He was later inducted into the City College sports hall of fame.
He enlisted in the Army Air Forces during World War II and played football while in the service. After a sports injury, he became an Army physical-education instructor and won a Golden Glove boxing tournament at Fort Myers, Fla.
After the war, he earned a degree at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he also played four years of varsity lacrosse.
In 1950, he began a sales career with Blue Cross of Maryland, now CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland. He became director of group sales in 1966 and worked to secure accounts with the city and state employees.
Mr. Medairy retired in 1984.
A Mass of the Christian burial was held Dec. 23 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cockeysville, where he was a member.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, the former Margaret Lucille Coakley; two sons, Mark C. Medairy Jr. of Mays Chapel and Timothy P. Medairy of Perry Hall; three daughters, Mary Kathryn Mulford of Lutherville, Karen A. Daly of Phoenix and Julia E. Medairy of Rodgers Forge; a brother, Bernard J. "Jack" Medairy of Rodgers Forge; and 10 grandchildren.
