Mark Gail Flaherty, 72, passed away peacefully on April 27, 2022, at his home in Kansas City, Missouri.  Mark was born on September 18, 1949, in Ottawa, KS, the second son of Glenn and Viola Hill Flaherty and younger brother to his beloved Glassel.  Mark attended elementary school in Garnett and Osawatomie, KS before moving to rural Topeka where he attended high school at Auburn Rural High School and graduated in 1967 from Washburn Rural High School.

Mark enlisted in the US Army and completed Airborne and NCO training before going to Vietnam to serve with the 173rd Airborne Unit.  He was wounded twice and awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for his actions and service.  Mark returned to Kansas, and after recovering from his wounds in Japan, graduated from the University of Kansas.  In 1975, Mark graduated from Law School at KU.

Mark's professional career as an attorney began as a Law Clerk for District Judge William Robert Collinson in Kansas City, Missouri.  He had a successful career with firms in Kansas City before establishing his own practice.  His practice focused on Health, Medical, Labor, and Employment Law in Missouri, Kansas, and New York.  Mark also worked on projects for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, Jackson County, and the State of Missouri through numerous board appointments and legal consultation.

Mark was most proud to be appointed by Jay Nixon as one of the founding members of the Health Forward Foundation.  While General Counsel for the Foundation, Mark discovered that Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) was in breach of its obligations to make $300 million in capital improvements and maintain charitable care.  He enlisted Seyferth Blumental & Harris law firm in a case against HCA.  In January 2013, the trial team obtained an award of $162 million on behalf of the Health Forward Foundation against HCA.  The trial court also ordered a judicially supervised accounting before a special master.  Following the accounting and an appeal to the Missouri Court of Appeals, HCA ultimately settled the lawsuit in February 2017, culminating in HCA's payment to the Health Forward Foundation of more than $203 million.

Mark was a dedicated lawyer who had genuine care and concern for his clients, coworkers, and community, working tirelessly on all cases and projects.  His humanity, generosity, and respectfulness engendered trust and comfort—when you were with Mark, you knew you were in good hands.  Mark was always a phone call away, ready to help, connect, problem solve, and make a plan.

In addition to his professional career, Mark loved spending time with family and friends.  He had a passion for traveling with his son Josh—taking many trips to cultivate a passion for the outdoors including Alaska and Santa Fe, New Mexico to name a few—cooking, baking, reading, yoga, collecting photography, and architecture.  Mark will be remembered for his wit, storytelling, honesty, integrity, courage, compassion, and dedication to the practice of law.

Mark was predeceased by his parents Glenn and Viola Hill Flaherty, his brother Glassel, his father-in-law Henry F. Tutera, and in-laws Thomas and Helen Mahurin.  Mark is survived by his devoted wife Tina Tutera Flaherty, his son Joshua (Nancy) Flaherty, grandsons Ryder and Chase and their mother Amanda Tarter, mother-in-law Josephine Vardyan Tutera and her two brothers Joseph and Kenneth, sister-in law Anna Marie Tutera and her husband Caleb Lee Bowman, nephews Henry and Roman, sister-in-law Bobbie Flaherty, niece Erin Flaherty Staggs, cousins Dolly Latorre, Joe-Joe Tutera (Karen), Charlie Cervello, and Dominic "Scoots" Scudiero.  Mark is also survived by his close family friends Diane Shoemaker Katz, Linda Harms, Concetta LaCapra, Vera Radecki, Gloria Veliz, Jake Imperiale (Mary), Chuck Cacioppo, Brad and Karen English, Andrew Funk (Emily), Domonique Malomo Thomson (Anourom) and Champa Thomson, Steve Quirarte (Carrie), Rudy Reyes (Jade), Mike Reyes (Tamar), Anita Dixon-Brown (Len), Carey Hampton, Monsignor Robert Gregory, and David Block (Vicki) for planting a tree in Mark's name in Israel.

The family is honored to thank Mark's dearest colleagues Paul Seyferth (Becky), Mike Blumenthal, Tim Cavanaugh (Linda), Paul Moore (Sharon), Brian Nail (Sylvia), Steve Roling, Bridget McCandless, John Thomas, Joe Price, and Hollis Jones for their support and friendship over many years.  The family thanks Dr. Peter Holt, Dr. Vincent Lem, Dr. Kumar Ethirajan, Dr. Anuhya Young, Dr. Jim Riscoe (Jan Erlandson), and St. Luke's Hospice (Scott, Missy, Lee Ann, and James) for their care and support.

Near Mark's passing, his best friend and Army brother of 53 years Raymond Reed (Cindy) were blessed to hold hands and say goodbye for now.  "From this day to the end of the world, but we in it shall be remembered – We few, we happy few, we band of brothers."

The family thanks Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, especially long-time family friend Charlie Passantino, for support and preparations, as well as The Restaurant at 1900 (Jennifer Cattano and Keith Goldman) and Floral Frontier (Jami Block) for celebration of life arrangements.

Those who knew and loved Mark are invited to a celebration of his life on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the 1900 Building located at 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Mission Woods, Kansas 66205.  Remarks and military honors will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to:  Mark G. Flaherty Health Equity Fund, c/o UNESCO Creative City KC, Inc., 38901 E. Colbern Road Extension, Oak Grove, MO 64075.  This fund has been created by UNESCO Creative City KC (a Missouri nonprofit) to provide grant awards to musicians, veterans, and community leaders who are dedicated to health and wellness initiatives.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com