Mark C. Bissell, age 68, died peacefully at his home in Union, West Virginia, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with his loving wife by his side. He was a US Army veteran, proudly serving as a Specialist with Company C, 9th Signal Battalion in Germany under the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) command (1976 to 1980) during the Cold War era.

He received the Army Expert Marksmanship Badge and the Good Conduct Medal.

Throughout Dr. Bissell's life, he built an extensive academic foundation dedicated to his mission.

He earned an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts in 1982, followed by a BS in Adolescent Counseling from the University of Massachusetts in 1986. After completing his undergraduate degree, Dr. Bissell earned his first Master's degree in Human Services from Keene State College. In 1993 he also received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS). In 1988 he earned his second Master's degree in Organizational Studies from the Fielding Graduate Institute, ultimately completing his PhD work. Dr. Bissell earned his PhD in Human and Organizational Development from Fielding in 2002.

He leaves behind a profound legacy as a visionary sociologist who dedicated his life to helping children in trouble. Mark combined his deep knowledge of sociology with hands-on, compassionate action to build safe, transformative pathways for vulnerable youth.

Early in his career, he served as the Director of the Charlestown, New Hampshire Girls Home, where he fought tirelessly for young women in crisis.

Later, he took on the role of Director and CEO of the Orion House, Inc. The true fruition of Mark’s professional legacy was with the creation of the Granite Hill School, along with a board of directors, originally known as the (DO It) School. He conceptualized and built this groundbreaking alternative program as part of his PhD work, creating a supportive environment where children could learn alternatively outside the constraints of a traditional classroom, ensuring every child had a chance to succeed on their own terms.

In 2017 Dr. Bissell took on the role of executive director at Davis Stuart in Lewisburg, West Virginia, a therapeutic Youth Care Facility. This would be Dr. Bissell's last and final contribution empowering young youth. Dr. Bissell spearheaded and broke ground on the massive 5,364 square foot, 100-seat dining hall facility. This multi-functional building was built to offer both family-style and cafeteria-style meals, providing proper nutrition, group gatherings, and movie nights for the adolescents under his care. Crucially, he integrated a central work area within the kitchen specifically designed to teach valuable food preparation and culinary skills to the residential youth, empowering the young youth in becoming productive.

He brought together regional leadership, local construction firms, and charitable foundations—including critical relationships with the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation and The Daywood Foundation, Inc.—to secure funding for these vital nonprofit capital projects.

Outside of work, Mark enjoyed watching the Patriots, motorcycle riding, traveling, and the ocean. He was an avid hunter, and Mark treasured being with his friends and always saying, "Love you, mean it."

Mark is survived by his devoted loving wife, Reverend Sara Bissell, of 19 years of marriage; his children, Jake Bissell, and his wife, Samantha, of Wisconsin; Joshua and Emily, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina; the absolute loves of his life, his two grandchildren, Anderson and Elowyn; his niece, Brittany Bissell; and his nephew, Luke Bissell; along with his aunts, Patricia Burgess of Union, West Virginia, and Sandra Whitman of Florida; and many treasured cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Verne W. Bissell; his mother, Gail A. Bissell; his brother, James Bissell; and his sister, Stacey Bissell, all of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts.

A memorial service honoring and celebrating Dr. Bissell's life was held on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026, at the Union Church of God with Pastor Mike Smith officiating, followed by a burial at his home cemetery, Bissell Acres.