A spray of greenery adorns the historical marker on the Clarkesville college campus where Dr. Mark Ivester worked for over twenty years.
Ivester, who for the past four years served as president of North Georgia Technical College, died Saturday from COVID-19, according to school officials. His funeral will be held Wednesday in his hometown of Toccoa.
The 57-year-old Ivester was a native of Stephens County and was well known and respected throughout the Northeast Georgia community and beyond. At the time of his death, he was Chair-Elect of the Board of Directors of Community Colleges of Appalachia, an organization of 90 public community colleges in thirteen eastern states.
Tributes to Dr. Ivester have been pouring in since news of his death first broke on Sunday.
“So many hearts are broken,” says former NGTC President Dr. Ruth Nichols. “All of us who knew Mark and his family are deeply saddened. Just thank God for all the lives that were touched by him, his life and his work!”
Habersham County Manager Phil Sutton says Ivester was “an incredibly likeable leader.”
“He was one of the good ones and it will be hard to fill his shoes,” says former District 28 State Representative Dan Gasaway. “He truly cared about the folks in Northeast Georgia.”
Fredine Collins remembers Dr. Ivester as a “super nice” person. Sue Albright says he was a great man who “always kept the students’ needs first.”
“We will miss him terribly,” says NGTC employee Diane Stover.
In a tweet Sunday, Gov. Brian Kemp said he and his family are praying for President Ivester’s loved ones, colleagues, and NGTC community. “We ask God to give them all comfort in this difficult time.”
.@GAFirstLady, the girls, and I are praying for the loved ones, colleagues, and community of @ngtc President Mark Ivester, who passed away last night due to COVID-19. We ask God to give them all comfort in this difficult time.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) September 13, 2020
Technical College System of Georgia Board Chairman Doug Carter says he last spoke with Ivester several months ago. He recalls Ivester “had his usual upbeat life perspective while sharing how his college was coping with the pandemic.”
Sadly, it was that very pandemic that claimed his life. When Ivester was diagnosed with COVID-19, he was already in quarantine because several members of his family had earlier tested positive for the virus. He fell ill on August 5 and was hospitalized on August 16. He never returned home. Ivester passed away late on the night of September 12 in the intensive care unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton.
“Dr. Ivester was a very kind, friendly and gentle person who was totally dedicated to North Georgia Technical College and TCSG. He was destined to be President and what better place to serve than at the College in his home community,” says TCSG board member Dinah Wayne. “It was an honor to know him.”
“Dr. Ivester was a tremendous leader for North Georgia Technical College, and he was so widely respected and loved by everyone who knew him,” says Carter. “Our state board sends our love to Eleanor, their family, and the greater North Georgia community. His legacy of leadership will not be forgotten.”
The Ivester family will hold a private funeral service on Wednesday, September 16 at First Baptist Church of Toccoa. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page beginning at 11 a.m., according to Acree Davis Funeral Home which is handling the arrangements.
Dr. Mark Ivester is survived by his parents, wife, four children, and two grandchildren.
