December 12, 2022
Meet Mark Thielen, a Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired Utility Worker. He is a dedicated worker who began his employment at Clovernook Center in 1984. Mark is responsible for assembling file folders, is deeply motivated and has a great work ethic. Mark believes in setting goals for himself so that he can be successful at everything in his life.
“I like working and I’m good at putting things together,” said Mark.
Mark was diagnosed with retrolental fibroplasia (RLF), later known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which caused his blindness. ROP is a disease caused by the abnormal development of retinal blood vessels in premature infants. After graduating from the Ohio State School for the Blind, Mark moved into Clovernook Center’s former Trader House where he was one of the few men residing there.
“When I have my goals laid out, it’s easier to focus and accomplish things,” said Mark.
When you talk with Mark about his favorite topic – music – you discover his love for many musical genres. He is also very passionate about his ever-growing collection of vinyl records, which includes everything from classical to contemporary music. You see Mark’s face light up when he talks about going to concerts involving musical legends like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.
When Mark isn’t spinning his records, he enjoys audiobooks, going out to eat at Skyline and Los Panchos, listening to classic television shows like M*A*S*H and learning about history, especially the Cold War. Some interesting things you may not know about Mark include that he was a former wrestler and a choir member when he was in high school.
“I am grateful to be able to work around so many nice people at Clovernook Center,” said Mark.
Clovernook Center would like to thank Mark for being such a tremendous asset to our team! Thank you for all you do, Mark.
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