Mark Steven Kamleiter

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ville Lumiere Paris Ministries, a non-profit organization which Mark founded to fund the ministry in Paris. Secure online donations can be made at villelumiere.org/donations. Mark S. Kamleiter passed away March 8, 2020 in Hudson, FL, at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife Julia, brothers Thomas Kamleiter and Arthur “Bud” Kamleiter, as well as several nieces and nephews. Mark Kamleiter was born in Indianapolis, IN to Joseph and Maxine Kamleiter. Mark was a graduate of Old Dominion University in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. He graduated from the College of William and Mary (Marshall-Wythe School of Law-1978) in Virginia, with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. Mark established his own law firm in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1993 that became known as Special Education Law and Advocacy, which focuses on the representation of children with disabilities relative to issues in public education. As a long-time advocate for the rights of children with disabilities, Mark served on the board of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA). He helped to found the Florida Association of Special Education Attorneys. Mark was a frequent local and national speaker on issues related to the education of children with disabilities. Outside of his legal practice, Mark was active in the community. Locally, he worked to promote the passage of the St. Petersburg Human Rights Ordinance amendment. His belief in non-violence led Mark to serve with CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse, Inc.), a major Pinellas County non-profit corporation providing spousal abuse shelter, transitional housing, education and counseling, among other services. He is a past-president of CASA and served on their governance committee. Mark served on the board of the Pinellas Chapter of the ACLU, as well as on the local ACLU legal panel. In the summer of 2018, Mark retired to pursue a calling to do church work in Paris, France. In the 1980’s, Mark, with his wife Julia, founded a church in Paris, La Pierre Vivante (The Living Stone Church). He felt a call to return to Paris and finish the work they started. Mark’s vision for the Paris work was to establish an ecumenical center to serve the churches in Paris. Mark had been living in Europe but passed away while visiting the States this month. Julia will return to Paris to continue their ministry. Mark was also passionate about the arts and loved painting as well as music. He will be missed by his family and friends. Per the family, “Due to continued corona virus concerns and in deference to the Florida governor’s request, we are postponing Mark Kamleiter’s memorial service on Saturday, March 21, to a later date. Thank you!” In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ville Lumiere Paris Ministries, a non-profit organization which Mark founded to fund the ministry in Paris. Secure online donations can be made at villelumiere.org/donations.