Mark Crisman Obituary, Death – On May 20, 2023, Mark Virgil Crisman, DVM, MS, Dip ACVIM, 69, died from injuries incurred in a horrific ATV accident. Mark Crisman was born on September 25, 1953 in Syracuse, New York to the late Virgil Henry “Cris” Crisman, Ill and Nancy Jamieson Bryant Crisman.
His 25-year-long love, Celeste Coker Crisman, survives him, as do his brother, Barry Bryant Crisman (Regina), brother-in-law, Kenneth Andrew Rapoport, niece, Jamie Crisman, and nephew, Dylan Rapoport. Linda Jamieson Rapoport, Mark’s sister, died before him. Mark attended Ulster Academy before earning a BS in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky in 1977 and a PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Warsaw in 1984. After completing an internship and residency in horse internal medicine, he earned a Master of Science in Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in 1987. In 1990, he was named a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society also certified Mark in acupuncture. Mark was a Professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Section Chief of Equine Medicine and Surgery at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine from 1987 until 2010. Mark was also the Director of the Molecular Diagnostics lab at the V-MCVM. Two of his proudest moments were being named Teacher of the Year in 2004 and being asked to deliver the Vet School’s commencement address in 2008. Mark began his career with Zoetis in 2010 as a Senior Veterinarian in Equine Technical Services and has remained with the firm ever since. Mark was appointed Vice President of Scientific Advisors to the Horses and Humans Research Foundation’s board of directors in 2020.
He valued his career, his coworkers, and the opportunity to watch his former students in action throughout the country and beyond the world. Because he never wanted to lose contact with the classroom, he continued to lecture at veterinary schools around the Southeast. Mark was always up for an adventure, whether it was snow skiing, sky diving, deep sea diving, camping and trail riding, or riding his ATV around the property for fun or to make trails for everyone to enjoy. He adored his farm and delighted in constructing a beautiful paradise, working on it every day he could while amassing and indulging a large herd of largely misfits. Luke, his favorite sidekick, will be waiting for him up the driveway for quite some time. Mark’s love of people, breadth of knowledge, giving and effervescent manner, and ability to out-talk the best of them all encouraged and benefited everyone he met.
On June 24th, commencing at 1:00 p.m., a “Celebration of Mark” will be held at Spring Tree Farm outside of Blacksburg. More information will be published later. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation in Mark’s memory to the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Make checks payable to Virginia Tech Foundation and mail to VMCVM, 215 Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, with the phrase “In memory of Dr. Mark Crisman” on the check notation line. Donations can also be given online at “vetmed.vt.edu/make-a-gift.html#ways” by entering “In memory of Dr. Mark Crisman” in the Area to Support. His intention was to leave a contribution to the V-MCVM to assist others succeed as he had, and to establish a fund in his honor.
