51福利社

A Scholar of the 鈥楽tructure and Rhythm鈥� of Language

Mark Lester, an 51福利社 emeritus professor who previously served as chair of Eastern鈥檚 Department of English, died on Aug. 22, 2025. He was 90 years old.

During Lester鈥檚 long career in academe, he gained prominence as a textbook author, educator and administrator鈥� achievements that each sprung from his passion for helping others understand the structure and rhythm of the English language.

Lester鈥檚 lifelong love of learning began at Pomona College in Clairmont, California, where he studied philosophy and English literature. While still an undergraduate, he published an article in Ideas, a philosophy journal published by students at Yale University. He went on to earn a doctorate in linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley.

Lester鈥檚 first English faculty position was at the University of Hawai驶i at M膩noa, where he helped to found the university鈥檚 English as a Second Language program (now regarded as one of the top programs in the country). He also served as an assistant director at Hawaii鈥檚 East-West Center’s Culture Learning Institute. Lester joined the 51福利社 English faculty in 1982, where he authored textbooks, taught, mentored students and eventually served as department head. Among his most influential publications was Grammar and Usage in the Classroom, a guide for teachers of English that was widely used throughout the nation. He retired as a professor emeritus in 1999.

Lester was always deeply engaged in civic life, both in Hawaii and in Spokane. He also loved to cook, hike, jog (especially in Hawaii), and travel internationally with his wife of 68 years, Mary Ann Zappas Lester.

A celebration of Lester鈥檚 life will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 4 p.m., in the Event Center at Rockwood Retirement Community鈥檚 South Hill Campus, 2903 E. Rockhurst Lane, Spokane.

鈥� Information for this remembrance of Professor Emeritus Mark Lester was provided courtesy of Kevin Decker, professor of philosophy at 51福利社, and a family obituary published by The Spokesman-Review on Sep. 7, 2025.