Mark Augustus Toland, 58, of Summerfield, NC, passed away on June 18th. He was born on October 8th, 1962, to Elizabeth Whitman Toland and Hugh James Toland, Jr. Mark will be remembered for his professional and personal talents, generosity, and sense of humor.
Mark was born and raised in Asheville, NC. He was a lover of numbers and the outdoors, as well as an outstanding athlete. In 1981, he graduated from the Asheville School. While there, he enjoyed participating in Asheville School team sports, playing varsity football and varsity baseball, and lettering in each. Following graduation, he attended Colorado State University. Mark transferred to the University of North Carolina Greensboro and in 1986 graduated with a bachelor of science in accounting. He was a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the International Honor Organization for Financial Information Students and Professionals. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Mark received his NC CPA License in July 1988. He moved to Maryland, where he worked for KPMG/Peat Marwick. The draw of the mountains and trout waters brought him back to Asheville, where he practiced as a CPA for many years.
During his life, Mark dedicated a significant amount of time to supporting social and environmental causes. He served as treasurer for Caring for Children, Inc., treasurer and board member for the Cradle of Forestry, treasurer for the Hendersonville Arts Council, board member of the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation, and a board member of Camp Bryan, in Havelock, NC. Most recently, Mark served as an advisory board member at the Duke Cancer Institute. Nonetheless, Mark maintained his status as a fan of the NC Tarheels!
Though Mark was an accomplished professional, he was an outdoorsman at heart. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Growing up in the mountains of western NC, this passion began in his childhood. Mark wasn’t often without his fishing rod or hunting rifle. In his adult life, Mark spent his free time in “play clothes.” While living in the Asheville/Hendersonville area, Mark never took the surrounding mountains for granted. The Davidson River, Dupont Forest, and Pinnacle Mountain were among his favorite places. He was also fortunate to travel annually for fly fishing trips in the Katmai National Forest in Alaska, and to spend time in Montana and at Camp Bryan. Mark also enjoyed saltwater fishing and surf fishing along the NC/SC coast, a passion highlighted by a trip to Guatemala to fish for sailfish and marlin. He lived life to its fullest! In his own words, “I was able to do and see much more than most!”
Mark is survived by his mother and father, brother Jimmy (nieces Penelope and Olivia), brother Whitman and sister-in-law Ressie (nephews Andrew and wife Cierra; Spencer; Ashton and wife Victoria; Evan; and great nephew Shepherd), and sister Kathryn and brother-in-law Ray Writesel (nephews Coleman and Michael Enloe). Mark is also survived by his beloved black Labrador companion, Beau.
Mark will be greatly missed by his family, as well as his many friends and acquaintances.
A celebration of Mark’s life will be led by Pastor Whitman Toland on Thursday, August 5th at 4 p.m. at The Church on 68 in Greensboro, NC.
Should you wish, please consider a memorial donation in honor of Mark Augustus Toland to the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation (www.ncwhf.org), or to the Duke Cancer Institute (dukecancerinstitute.org).
Published by Greensboro News & Record on Jul. 11, 2021.
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