UPDATE, 3:18 p.m.: Official press release from St. Joe’s below. It is subtitled — no fooling — “Hospital Executive Will Relocate to Midwest to Spend More Time with Family.”

Man, you’d think that by now people would know not to put it like that, true or not.

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The Lost Coast Outpost has confirmed that Joe Mark, CEO of St Joseph’s Hospital, has resigned, effective June 30.

Hospital sources say the decision was Mark’s, that he and his wife are moving back east to be closer to family.

Mark’s tenure at St Joseph’s has been distinguished by the construction of the new tower and a $12.5 million capital campaign. However, the tower’s opening continues to be delayed, and the hospital system recently laid off 68 employees.

More to come as this story evolves.

Below: Official St. Joseph Hospital press release:

St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals CEO Joe Mark Will Leave Organization June 30

Hospital Executive Will Relocate to Midwest to Spend More Time with Family

Eureka, Calif. – April 4, 2012 – After six years on the job in Humboldt County, St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals CEO Joe Mark announced today that he will leave the organization on June 30 in order to relocate to the Midwest to spend more time with family.

“Throughout his tenure, Joe and his team have achieved many notable accomplishments,” said Kevin Klockenga, Regional Executive Vice President for Northern California of St. Joseph Health System. “Among those was the successful effort to raise $12.6 million locally for St. Joseph Hospital’s new patient care facility that will open this summer. Additionally, Joe helped us recruit 30 new physicians to Humboldt County during the past two years.”

Mark said he will miss his many colleagues and friends from the region.

“I am proud to have partnered with so many fine people these past six years including trustees, physicians, volunteers, employees and community leaders who have all contributed to building a successful future for St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals,” said Mark. “My work here is coming to a close and I am leaving our two hospital ministries in very capable hands.”

“My wife Peggy and I are very excited about being active grandparents to our 18-month-old granddaughter Cate and to reuniting with our families in Ohio,” said Mark. “We have made wonderful friends here in Humboldt County and it will be difficult saying goodbye to them and the beauty of the North Coast.”

Mark came to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka as a consultant in November 2005. He was asked to serve as interim CEO of St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals in January 2006 and accepted the job full time with St. Joseph Health System in September 2006.

Klockenga said recruitment of a new CEO will begin shortly with the goal of having a new chief executive in place by early summer.

About St. Joseph Hospital and Redwood Memorial Hospital:

St. Joseph Hospital is a 146-bed full-service acute care facility located in Eureka, California. Founded in 1920, SJH is the flagship hospital for what is now St. Joseph Health System, an integrated healthcare delivery organization based in Orange, California that provides a broad range of medical services within three geographic regions – Northern California, Southern California and West Texas/Eastern New Mexico. St. Joseph Hospital, together with Redwood Memorial Hospital, which is a 25-bed critical care access facility, employ more than 1,250 and provide comprehensive health care services to the greater Humboldt County region.