Mark Langell passed away peacefully in his home on July 27, 2026. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 6, 1956, he moved with his family to Southern California when he was just a few months old, and he made California his lifelong home.
He grew up in the San Fernando Valley and earned his degree in chemistry from California State University, Northridge. In the 1980s he moved to Santa Barbara, where he lived for the rest of his life.
An accomplished engineer, Mark spent more than 30 years at Raytheon in Goleta.
His award-winning work had a widespread and profound effect on the engineering of critical infrared night vision systems, and he was considered one of the world’s leading experts in focal plane arrays.
Beyond engineering, he was an avid chef, hiker, camper and traveler, who loved downhill skiing and river rafting, and he visited nearly every state in the country.
Fittingly, he spent his final weeks with a month of camping across Nevada, Montana and Wyoming, through Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Teton and other national parks.
Just 12 days before his sudden passing, he shared a campsite in Yellowstone with his sister and friends.
Mark could track a budget down to the last dollar, and his spreadsheets were legendary. He became the person the family turned to for financial advice, and he was quietly generous with that gift, devoting countless hours to careful financial planning for family members.
He brought the same care to the Santa Barbara Highlands HOA, serving first as secretary/treasurer and then as president, as well as board liaison to the landscaping and fire safety committee.
Those who knew Mark will remember his adventurous spirit, his incredible intellect, and his wonderfully irreverent (and frequently unprintable) sense of humor, along with his love of the outdoors and his kindness and generosity.
He is survived by his sister Kim Peters of Santa Barbara; nephew Adam Peters; and niece Samantha Peters. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lilly Langell, and his brother Frank G. Langell, who passed away in 2014.
A celebration of life will be planned at a future date.