Mark J. Adey

 Mark J. Adey passed away on July 12, 2022 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.  Mark was born on February 1, 1963 to George and Patricia (Buettner) Adey in Baltimore, Maryland. He moved to Michigan City at the age of 6. Mark received a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University in 1985, and a Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame Law School in 1988.  Mark and Elizabeth Loof married in Bermuda on September 9, 1991, and they had two children, Benjamin (Sara) of Des Moines, Iowa, and Amaryllis of South Bend, Indiana. Mark is also survived by his brother George Adey, Jr. (Suzie), sister Becky (Keith) Gouge, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Willis and Judith Loof, and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. Mark was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Paula Bailey and Renee Anderson, and his nephew Josh Adey.

Mark was a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the law firm that he joined after graduating from law school.  He focused his practice on bankruptcy and creditor’s rights and commercial and real estate transactions. Mark was a fixture in B&T’s South Bend office and the local Bankruptcy Court Bar for almost 34 years. He was certified as a Business Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification, meeting its rigorous standards relating to experience, continuing legal education, integrity, and peer review in addition to demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of bankruptcy law. Mark was also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in the areas of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Mark was the Chair of the St. Joseph County Bar Association Insolvency Practice Committee for almost 20 years, and served on the Standing Committee on Practices and Procedures, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Mark was a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, the St. Joseph County Bar Association, and the Robert A. Grant Inn of Court.

Mark was a trusted advisor to his clients, a mentor to young lawyers, and a true partner. His deep knowledge of the law, common sense approach to solving problems, and willingness to step in and help on a moments’ notice made Mark the person his peers sought out for sage advice not only for his areas of expertise, but also for practical guidance for many complex legal matters.  If you asked Mark for help, you knew he would say “yes” regardless of how busy he was or what else was going on in his life.  Mark also took the time to teach young lawyers, not only about the law but about how law should be practiced. His ethics and integrity were unquestioned. Mark never sought recognition. He never put himself first.  He led by example. Mark was a part of the heart and soul of the South Bend and Elkhart offices of Barnes & Thornburg.

Mark was a parishioner at Saint Matthew Cathedral.  He coached Saint Matthew Cathedral School basketball and soccer teams in the ICCL and served as President of the School Athletic Board for many years.  Mark coached and served on the Athletic Board even after Benjamin and Amaryllis finished grade school.   

 Mark was a life-long fan of Notre Dame football, IU basketball, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Oakland Raiders. Mark’s calm, rational, and reasoned demeanor did not apply when it came to his teams. He was often relegated to a separate room in his house when his team was not playing well. But for Mark, the simple W-L record was not important.  He expected his teams to win “the right way” — understand the game, practice, develop a coaching strategy to fit the team and the opponent, implement it as a team, follow the written and unwritten rules, and play to the best of your ability. These were the same expectations that Mark had and applied to himself in the practice of law and his life. He did things the “right way.”

Mark was a loving and devoted husband and father, a trusted friend, and a selfless person. Mark’s visitation will take place on July 25, 2022 at Saint Matthew Cathedral, 1701 Miami Street, South Bend, Indiana, where the family will meet with friends from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. and 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.  A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Matthew Cathedral on July 26, 2022 at 10:00 A.M., with Monsignor Michael Heintz officiating. Mark’s interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery at Notre Dame.  Elizabeth, Benjamin, and Amaryllis request no flowers, and ask instead that donations be made in honor of Mark to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.