Meet Mars
A dreamer.
A creator.
A life in motion.
Before there was a foundation, there was Mars Munroe—a beloved only son, a disciplined student, an industrial designer, a filmmaker, a rider, and a young man with an unmistakable way of lighting up a room.
Meet Mars
Omari
"Mars"
Munroe
Mars was born on July 6, 1998, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and raised in New York and Georgia. He was his mother’s only child—the heartbeat of her world—and a free spirit whose energy, laughter, creativity, and determination stayed with people long after he left the room.
He was curious about how things worked and even more interested in how they could work better. Cars, design, film, skateboarding, and motorcycles gave that curiosity somewhere to go. Whether he was landing an ollie, imagining the next chapter for his Nissan 240SX project, developing a film idea, or studying the lines of a vehicle, Mars approached life as both a creator and a problem-solver.
Mars also had a deep love for Japanese culture—an appreciation reflected in his passion for Japanese design, his Nissan 240SX project, and Yamaha motorcycles. It was another expression of his curiosity, creativity, and interest in a world larger than the one immediately around him.
His dreams were big, but they were never empty. Mars believed in discipline, preparation, and following through. His nickname, “Sudo,” means “you must do it”—a fitting reflection of the mantra he lived by:
“Each time, every time, without fail, you must do it.”
More than a résumé
Creative by nature.
Determined by choice.
Mars had the mind of a designer and the heart of a storyteller. Industrial design allowed him to turn ideas into something real; film gave him another way to shape a vision and invite others into it. He could see possibility in an unfinished concept, a car project, a camera frame, or the road ahead.
He also understood commitment. JROTC, the rifle team, demanding design studies, and the work of building a career all strengthened the focus behind his easy smile. Mars did not simply talk about the future he wanted—he worked toward it.
The life he was building
Talent became purpose, one chapter at a time.
His education and career were connected by the same thread: imagination, discipline, and a desire to create meaningful work.
Heritage High School · Class of 2017
2017
Heritage High School
A foundation of discipline and leadership.
Mars graduated cum laude from Heritage High School. He participated in Marine Corps JROTC and the rifle team while also studying at Rockdale Career Academy, where he earned dual certifications in engineering and architecture.
Savannah College of Art and Design · Class of 2022
Savannah College of Art and Design
He turned creativity into a calling.
At SCAD, Mars earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design with a concentration in automotive design and a minor in Film and Television. He graduated with a 3.5 GPA, bringing together the technical, visual, and storytelling interests that had shaped him for years.
–23
Beginning his career
The future was taking shape.
Mars began his professional journey at WestRock, continued developing his skills at 3D Solutions, and then joined COMP1—the opportunity he considered his dream job. At 25, he was doing more than finding his way; he was building the creative life he had imagined.
A passion in motion
Japanese culture, design, and Yamaha motorcycles.
Mars’s love of Japanese culture was part of the way he saw the world. It connected naturally with his appreciation for design, his Nissan 240SX project, and his passion for Yamaha motorcycles—interests that brought together creativity, precision, individuality, and motion.
More than a résumé
The details are part of the
story, too.
Mars was a free spirit with a focused mind. He loved learning, creating, and mastering the things that interested him—from skateboard ollies and automotive projects to film concepts and industrial design. He noticed details, asked questions, and kept working until an idea felt complete.
Mars could be exacting about a design and still find joy in the simplest things—chicken nuggets with ketchup, chocolate-chip cookies, a favorite car, a good film, a new idea, or the freedom of the open road. His humor, kindness, leadership, and generous spirit are how family and friends continue to know him.
July 18, 2023
Twelve days after his 25th birthday, everything changed.
Mars passed away in a motorcycle accident while traveling home from work on I-285 in Decatur, Georgia. His death is the reason this work began, but it is not the whole of his story. Message From MARS exists to carry forward the love, possibility, and purpose that filled his life—and to help more families receive the message that their loved one made it home.
Why Mars matters
Remember the whole life
.
Carry the love forward.
The foundation is built in Mars’s name because of the life he lived: creative, determined, joyful, and deeply loved. Every conversation, program, and act of advocacy begins with remembering him as a person—not only as a loss.
Carry the message
Help Mars’ legacy travel farther.
Share his story, practice road awareness, and help someone else make it home.