Mark A. Bekish, manager of the Central Heating Plant for a year and a half, died of a heart attack on Monday, Sept. 4. He was 43 years old.

“He was fabulous, kindhearted and hard working,” said coworker Polly Bratton. “He was the best supervisor I ever had.”

His wife, Cheryl Bekish, who works as the Career Services Office administrative assistant, said he was very happy at Oberlin.

“Mark was excited about working with students, and had a terrific crew,” she said.

Mr. Bekish convinced his wife to work at Oberlin as well.

“He kept trying to get me a job here so that we could carpool [and have] an extra hour to be together,” said Ms. Bekish.

Mr. Bekish grew up in Cleveland. He studied at the Westside Technical Institute and worked for the Metro Health Hospital for 13 years. He married Ms. Bekish in Los Angeles in 1991.

Mr. Bekish is survived by two sons, Randy, 14, an avid football player, and Adrian, 23, staff sergeant in the Air Force, as well as an infant grandson.