Mark Batdorf

Mark Andrew Batdorf

September 14, 1964 - September 12, 2026

Mark Batdorf, 61, passed away on September 12, 2026, in Mansfield, Texas, after a heroic 3-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born on September 14, 1964, in Frederick, Maryland, to Jack and Barbara Batdorf.

As a youngster, Mark excelled in school, sports, and scouting, eventually achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest and most prestigious rank a member can achieve in the BSA. Only about 4% of all Scouts achieve this distinction.

Upon graduation from Western Maryland College in 1986 with a degree in sociology, Mark worked as a bartender at the Brown Pelican in downtown Frederick while he searched for career direction. Interviews were offered at local businesses, including a bank, but none of the prospects felt like a fit to him. When he was offered an opportunity to train in the Pelican’s kitchen, and learn to cook, he eagerly accepted the challenge. It was a case of the man meeting the moment. Mark loved everything about becoming a chef, and would devote his entire professional career to preparing delicious food (as well as developing the skills and talents of those who worked on his many culinary teams.)

Mark went on to build a career spanning more than three decades in the restaurant and food service industry, including owning his own restaurant, The Blue Heron, at the age of 22, in Westminster, MD. He most recently served as Food Service Director for HEB/Central Market from December 2015 to July 2024, overseeing operations across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Before that, he was Executive Chef Partner at Seasons 52 Fresh Grill, part of Darden Restaurants, in Plano, Texas, from 2013 to 2015. He spent nearly seventeen years, from 1996 to 2013, as Corporate Chef for Landry’s Restaurants, developing menus for the Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, and Yak & Yeti brands. Earlier in his career, he was Executive Chef at Back Bay’s Restaurant Group’s Papa Razzi from 1993 to 1996.

Outside of work, Mark loved creating amazing meals for his family, gardening, woodworking, and taking on projects around the house. He could fix just about anything. Mark was a devout Christian, and his faith was the guiding force in his life. Most important to him was the time spent with his wife and two daughters. When Mark was diagnosed in 2023 he prioritized making as many memories as possible with his family including trips to Oklahoma to celebrate his birthday fly-fishing, which had long been an item on his bucket list, taking a trip back to Orlando where he started his family, and many other trips celebrating special moments. A tightly knit unit, they enjoyed frequent outings and adventures, eating out, and many movie nights - sharing his favorites, and his love for B&W classics, was a delight for him. As a family, they also followed and cheered for his beloved Commanders (win or lose.)

In addition to being a devoted husband and father, Mark was a loving son and brother. His sense of humor, kindness, willingness to jump in and lend a hand, and adeptness at telling a good story were hallmarks of his interactions with everyone he encountered.

Mark is survived by his wife, Holly; his daughters Kaidyn and Addisyn; his sister, Ann; his brother, John; his sister-in-law, Susan Loop; and his niece, Kate, his Father-in-law, Frank Rejsek; his brother-in-law, Casey Rejsek, as well as uncles, aunts, and several cousins.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 19th at Nancy Smith Cemetery, Glen Rose, TX 76043. A Celebration of Life will follow at 3:30 pm at 3410 Woodford Drive, Venus, TX 76084.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Kaidyn’s and Addisyn’s college funds. Checks can be sent to:

Scott R. Shotto

Twin Harbors Group

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

303 International Circle

Suite 500

Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Please make them payable to Morgan Stanley and include either “Addisyn Batdorf’s 529 Plan” or “Kaidyn Batdorf’s 529 Plan” in the memo section.