Mark Masarsky, 18, of Northbrook, came home from the hospital on June 7 after a stay that kept the teen from attending his June 2 Glenbrook North High School (GBN) commencement ceremony in Rosemont at the Rosemont Theatre. A GoFundMe, as of June 9, has raised $37,619 of a $38,000 goal. “This illness is a huge shock to everyone but we know Mark is strong and will overcome this,” the fundraiser reads.
From left to right, Mark Masarsky, 18, of Northbrook and of the Glenbrook North High School Class of 2024, with parent Valeria Masarsky at a May 24, 2024 college commitment party at a friend’s Northbrook home. (Photo courtesy of the Masarsky family) The teen’s mother Valeria Masarsky communicated with Pioneer Press via email. “Mark missed his high school graduation as it happened on Sunday, June 2,” Valeria Masarsky confirmed, adding Mark was in the “ICU in a medically induced coma that day.
His school has been very supportive, teachers and deans reaching out.” Parents Gary and Valeria Masarsky have lived in Northbrook since 2015. “But our history with the Northbrook community goes beyond that because I teach as a figure skating coach and my daughter (Ariela Masarsky, 22) has skated at the Northbrook Sports Center since 2008 and Mark has played hockey with Northbrook since 2015,” Valeria Masarsky said.
“We are a skating family, I have skated for the majority of my life being able to represent Latvia in many international competitions, and I was five five-time.