An expert from my eulogy to an important person in my life that passed away 2 weeks ago.
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Marc was a visionary. He didn’t just see the world the way it was, he saw beyond that and imagined the world without poverty, violence, or resource and cost inefficiencies. I can’t say with confidence that all his visions will be achieved in the near future, but it does inspire me and everyone else he has touched to build bigger goals and confidence to strengthen future global health systems. It always brought a smile on my face when I spotted that blue Boston cap from across the street before we would sit down with our tea and coffee (I don’t like coffee), because I knew we wouldn’t simply discuss how far I’ve gotten with the reference list for the paper or how many more articles I’ve uncovered on blood-bag delivering drones. We would talk about bigger things – like artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry, or standardizing electronic medical records, or making “Uberization of healthcare” a common term. Marc helped me rediscover my love for writing and newly discover my capability to use words and research to empower others. I felt so lucky that our paths had crossed that one meeting at Bixby Center – what I thought would be a simple working professional partnership became a long-lasting friendship. He would ask about my plans for the winter holidays, and I would ask him which concert he would be attending next. He was curious what language I spoke at home, and I wondered about his 4-month world tour with you after he graduated college. I would express to him my fascination of the film “On the Basis of Sex”, and he would tell me about the thrill of going down a black-diamond ski slope. Over fried chicken, I would seek advice on maintaining strong relationships and he would show me adorable photos of his grandchildren or selfies of you two on a ski slope.
The day came when Marc texted me to meet him at the Public Health building to submit our proposal. Once we clicked the key to send off the article, I had butterflies in my stomach. What Marc had probably done hundreds of time was an extremely big deal to me. He had given me the chance to be published, to be a co-author of an innovative article on a topic I care so much about on a global health journal. When Marc invited me to join him and you for dinner at your home, I was more than grateful and excited to come. It felt special to celebrate the acceptance of our article in that exact place that embodied Marc’s past, personality and passions. Seeing all the tapestries, collections of art, and lovely family photos in your home brought every word that Marc had told me about his life into reality. Just by examining the walls, rooms and objects in your house, I saw how deeply Marc and you have assimilated all the culture and traditions you both have encountered in your lives, I saw the love he had for you, his children and grandchildren, and I saw the evolution of both his and your extraordinary academic careers. The stimulating and engaging discussions we shared about cultural views and perceptions, about history and wars, about books and education enriched my cultural, historical and intellectual knowledge in one night. I felt accepted, understood and honored to have shared such an enjoyable time with two ambitious people who have seen so much of the world through such unique lenses. Though the savory taste of the roasted pork stayed in my memory for a while, it was the comfort and ease I felt talking to Marc and you that will remain with me forever.
Marc had warned me that every Public Health graduation he had attended in the past was boring. That Saturday of my graduation was possibly one of the happiest days of my life – and Marc and you are a big reason for making that true. It was a busy day for everyone – but both of you were so easygoing, approachable and cheerful that it made it so much easier for my family and friends to all converse with each other and have wonderful time. All my friends were amazed by how friendly Marc and you were, and I am elated that my parents got along with you two so well. It just shows how open-minded, worldly and loving people you are and that you will leave a deep impression on anybody you meet. Timely like he always was, Marc showed up exactly on the dot for my thesis presentation. He attentively listened to all 20 minutes of me going through months of work on literature reviews, data collection and data analysis and asked profound questions that I struggled to answer at the end. I always looked up to the way Marc constantly challenged what was presented in front of him and took everything in with a grain of salt. I never imagined that our way back home would be our last moments together. Like any other time, we talked about how I could improve my presentation, what other topics in global health I could tackle and challenge, which professors I should contact at graduate school, what is going in my personal life, and what the most valuable priorities in life are. A few hours after we parted, I received a purple necklace from Marc and you, which I will treasure forever. Purple is my favorite color and is a mix of the stability of blue and the fierce energy within the red. Marc was always a stable, motivating force in the past year, but he also sparked a stronger energy in me – to strive to become people like him and you.
At the end of the day, I am not only fond of Marc because of all he has accomplished in life or the titles that he has earned or that he helped me get published for the first time. I admire him because he lived a fulfilled, happy and vibrant life – he’s visited over 40 countries, saved and touched thousands of lives, played the banjo, went to concerts, created a beautiful family, remained a great skier, became a master at cooking roast beef and Brussel sprouts, created his own innovative non-profit, defied boundaries within global health, constantly challenged himself and the world around him, fully supported and respected his wife and children, was open to learning about new cultures, invested time and effort into his students, was open-minded about the idea of technology becoming part of our lives, questioned authors that I thought were faultless – the list is endless. I am grateful that he was not only my mentor and professor but also my colleague and friend. Most importantly, I am going to miss Marc because he holds a special place in my heart I hope I earned a place in his. Marc changed the world and undoubtedly left an unforgettable mark in all those who met him. He has inspired me to do the same.
I will miss you,
Lena Kan
Some kind of Beautiful 