Superior Court Judge Mark R. Santana, 54, formerly of Saratoga, died Dec. 22 of cystic fibrosis.

Santana was a graduate of Sacred Heart School in Saratoga and Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose. He graduated summa cum laude from UC-Davis in 1973 with a degree in political science and history, and graduated cum laude in 1976 with a law degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson. During law school, he was the editor of the Arizona Law Review .

Prior to taking his place on the bench, Santana was the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's administrative counsel for eight years. He was in private practice from 1980 to 1993, specializing in civil and commercial litigation. Before entering private practice, he served as an assistant attorney general, representing the Arizona Department of Health Services. He also led consumer fraud prosecutions at the Office of the Attorney General, and he clerked with Judge James Walsh of the U.S. District Court after law school.

Santana is survived by his wife, Patricia Mariella, and two stepchildren, J.R. and Steve Pribula of Arizona; sister, Julie Santana of Santa Cruz; brother, Randy Sheleman of Gilroy; and parents, Joseph and Terry Santana of Saratoga.

Donations may be made in his name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.