Sept. 4, 2001 – Radio station executive Randy Knight, for whom the new athletic facility under construction on the Antilles School campus was to have been named, has asked that it instead be named for the school's longtime headmaster, Mark C. Marin, who died unexpectedly in July.
Knight, president of Knight Quality Stations, donated $1 million to the Frenchman's Bay school's "Imagine the Possibilities" capital development campaign last year for the sports complex. Formal ground breaking was held May 31 for what was then being called the Knight Center.
According to a release from the school, Knight has now directed the Antilles Board of Trustees to name the facility the Mark C. Marin Center.
"After being so moved by the many eloquent tributes to our dear friend, Mark, by such a loving cross section of our entire community," Knight said, "it is my desire to personally honor this good and decent man who touched so many lives in so many meaningful ways."
Marin had been headmaster of Antilles School for 22 years at the time of his death on July 25. Under his leadership, the school developed a reputation for academic as well as athletic excellence, greatly expanded the diversity of its student body and embarked on the current capital expansion that already has seen completion of the Henry A. Kimelman Library.
Elliott "Mac" Davis, Antilles board president, called Knight's gesture "a wonderful and fitting tribute to Mark Marin and all for which he stood." Davis added that Knight's "generosity of spirit and altruism truly know no bounds."
Kaye Knoepfel, Antilles headmistress, said, "Mark would be extremely touched by Randy's generous decision. He valued Randy's friendship and all that Randy was doing for Antilles and the community. He would be honored to have his name on this building."
Marin "was determined that the facility will have a major impact on the entire community, 'way beyond the borders of Antilles School," Davis said. While it will provide Antilles students a gymnasium for the first time, it also will be operated as a community facility. "Besides offering a modern gymnasium with broadcast facilities for island-wide basketball and volleyball tournaments, the facility will make possible Saturday programs and summer sessions involving all kinds of athletics for children all over the island, as well as community activities and events," the release stated.
Knight himself has said previously that "one of the conditions in giving the million dollars was that the center benefit students island wide." Although he had no previous affiliation with Antilles, Knight said he was moved to make the contribution because of the "deplorable conditions" of athletic facilities in the local schools. He said he chose Antilles because he found its administration to be "competent, responsible and accountable."
The Mark C. Main Center is scheduled to open next January.
"Although you can never replace special caring people like Mark," Knight said, "it is my hope that he will always be remembered as one of the few among us who really did make a lasting difference in the betterment of our community."
