Mark's 2026 Autobiography
I’m an over-educated professional and still healthy, a student.
In retrospect most, my important life- lessons came from living on the streets of Jackson Heights, Queens, NY and from the experiences on the PS69 schoolyard. My family then moved to Westport, where I initially felt a little like a fish outa the water. But I acclimated and educated, though still not grown-up. LonglotsJrHigh and STAPLES HS made a difference, offered new horizons, new social frontiers, and green grass. Then Ivy League for college and graduate school (BS, MS Physics) and then medical school and specialty surgical residency program, 5 long years duration, back in Connecticut (YALE). Married while in med-school to a jewel of a woman whose bra-burning liberal path crossed with mine. We could challenge any kind of problem (physics, mathematics, bio-health sciences, our economics and each-other, travel, family, finally children…). Now having to grow-up, decided to leave academia to become a private practicioner of specialty-surgery in a “growth” city (Atlanta, GA, mid 1970’s), though I was offered a variety of teaching positions at college, and medical school/university venues. Practiced specialty surgery with enthusiam, invested well and entered new world of business (bought into health sciences delivery, had 99 employees). My Wife, professional too, founded a major real-estate company. Fly an airplane, sail open waters, hike Grand Canyon, Inca Trail, fly-fished and caught(!) all over the US, and traveled the world; been lost many times, been low on fuel, had leaks in bilge, blownout sails. I’ve smoked with the Monks in Himalayas, eaten and drank every imaginable kind of stuff, slept on or off every kind of bed…. The only real tragedy and sadness was passing of my Wife, partner-in-all for 50+ years (incurable brain tumor). Now resetting, resettling, rejuveniting, restoring - a new work in progress. Live in MidTown, Atlanta and Cary, NC. Going sailing (and fishing) next month, my older Son the “Captain,” my Grandchildren to crew. I’m going to be sycophantic, obsequious, a good guest; still learning.