Marcus: A Life of Giving & Quantum-Gravity Enthusiasm

[mfb]

My condolences to his family.

No...

That is a good summary.

 

[fuzzyfelt]

 

[cnh1995]

I never had the chance to interact with @marcus since I have no background of many of his areas of expertise. But seeing his profile, content and feelings of members in this thread, I can see he had a vast scientific knowledge. He was surely one of the best science advisors here on PF! I now wish I had a little knowledge of any of those topics and I could interact with him. It would have been a great experience! My condolences to his family! Rest in peace marcus!

 

[naima]

Condoléances de France.

 

[Borek]

R.I.P. marcus.

You are the legend.

 

[Haelfix]

I'm very sad to hear this. My condolences to his family. He had a deep, childlike enthusiasm for our subject that I think everyone could learn from.

 

[DennisN]

Hi everyone -- Marcus's son here. Thank you all for the love and warmth here in this thread.

My condolences. I interacted with him a couple of times. He was a frequent poster in the Cosmology and Beyond the Standard Model forum, and he was always friendly and very interested in many things. I am sad by the news .

 

[blue_leaf77]

I have since long known that if I decided to cling actively on a forum like PF comprising people of all ages, on a certain day I will get notified about the resignation of a certain member. Just, I never have thought that this time's notification of leave, that came less than two years since I joined in PF, is about an unwakeable rest.
For a theory that bears the potential of revolutionizing physics, Marcus's retirement is a big loss.
Deep condolences for the deceased's family and relatives.

 

[Jorrie]

Hi everyone -- Marcus's son here.

Condolences to you and family.
We know that he will be severely missed your family, but also on this and quite a few other science forums.
Without your dad's inspiration and support, the community-development of the LightCone cosmological calculator would probably not have happened.

 

[Choppy]

I'd like to add my condolences as well. This is very sad news.

 

[vela]

Hi everyone -- Marcus's son here. Thank you all for the love and warmth here in this thread.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Please accept my condolences.

 

[dextercioby]

My deepest condolences to the family. It is a tragic loss to his family and another great member of PF saying goodbye in the saddening way possible (I remember about self Adjoint years ago).

 

[Mordred]

My condolences, Marcus was always able to supply excellent counter points to LCDM in LQC based models. I always enjoyed his counter points to numerous threads where I've supplied one variation to an answer, then he supplied another.

I also enjoyed working with him on the lightcone tutorial development. He had a natural way to extend the flexibility of the calculator well beyond its first appearance.
His true gift was simplifying the complex mathematics for numerous posters who didn't have strong math skills.

He will be missed.

 

[MalcolmB]

What sad news. My deepest condolences go out to Marcus's family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched. I'm deeply indebted to him for his patience and knowledge which have helped me to understand some of the complexities of our wonderful Universe.

RIP Marcus.

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

I never really interacted with Marcus, though I read many of his threads ... I'm sorry for the loss of this intelligent mind! @tamwuff May your family heal and receive comfort from those around you.

Though I must say, this is just more proof that PF is such a splendid community--to remember it's members once they have passed.

 

[enorbet]

I know of little else that impacts humans as deeply as death because we all seem so helpless in the facing of it. I am very grateful that you, tamwuff, saw fit to let us know some details during your time of grief. I find that a bit heroic and also somewhat understandable given the influence of a good man like Marcus. Please accept my deeply sincere expression of love and respect for your father for all his drive to share his knowledge so unselfishly. Also trust that once the physical process of grief has has diminished, while you will forever miss him as so many of us here will, you, like us, will find that grief ultimately greatly outpaced by the goodness and brightness of the man and the manner of life he apparently led. This thread is certainly testament to a major aspect of that. Peace to you and yours.

 

[marcusl]

How very sad. Marcus was one of the very first members to welcome me to PF (perhaps because of our shared name, which he commented on). His intellect, patience and professionalism will be missed.

 

[Markus Hanke]

This is very sad, and a stark reminder of our own transcience and mortality. I have not known him for long, but it is safe to say that not only did a remarkable human being pass on, but along with him also an incredible amount of knowledge and understanding on this universe we are all part of. A lifetime to accumulate, yet lost in a moment.

RIP, and condolences to his family and friends.

 

[*now*]

My sincerest condolences to tamwuff and the rest of his family.

He is a legend, like his favourite Marcus, Marcus Varro (Varro Reatinus), the most brilliant polymath of Ancient Roman world. Augustine wrote of that Marcus, homo omnium facile acutissimus et sine ulla dubitatione doctissimus (Aug. Civ. 6,2) [5.1179], (roughly, “The most perspicacious and without doubt, easily most learned”).

Our Marcus wrote of harmony, and "Varro produced a remarkably broad spectrum of works that covered almost all areas of intellectual inquiry... all of which were complemented by his own colourful poetic composition” (Butterfield), with understanding for diverse fields, and considering those verbal and those to do with proportion and motion, harmoniously.

Thank you.

 

[Borg]

@tamwuff. I would like to offer my condolences as well. I haven't had the skills to discuss topics on his level but I always knew what a great contribution he made to this community. I am saddened by the loss of one of our great ones.

 

[Demystifier]

This forum will never be the same without him. RIP

 

[Garlic]

My sincerest condolences to tamwuff and their family.
I've seen marcus's posts, but I have never contacted with him in the forum. Still, I shared the sorrow of his passing. I wish I had the chance to meet him.
May your soul rest in peace..

 

[Ibix]

@tamwuff. I would like to offer my condolences as well. I haven't had the skills to discuss topics on his level but I always knew what a great contribution he made to this community. I am saddened by the loss of one of our great ones.

Pretty much what I've been trying to figure out how to say. My condolences also, @tamwuff.

 

[Chronos]

While never having had the opportunity to meet him personally, I have long considered marcus a personal friend and mentor. He will be greatly missed by his extended family here on PF. My condolences.

 

[julian]

I'm just finding out and am in shock. He was a true legend on the physics forum. Also such a friendly guy and was the first person to welcome me when I joined. R.I.P. My condolences also.

 

[mheslep]

How sad. I'll miss Marcus ..

W. H. Auden seems about right ...

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,...

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

http://allpoetry.com/Funeral-Blues

 

[Ivan Seeking]

My deepest condolences to all of Marcus's friends, and especially his family. I only spoke directly with Marcus a few times but attempted to follow many of his LQG discussions for eight years. He has indeed been a legend at PF for as long as I've been around. And in a sense he will live on through the minds of his many readers and fans through his 24,000+ posts here at PF.

My first interaction with Marcus was when he called me out for posting in pseudo iambic pentameter. :D He liked that.

 

[ChrisVer]

Well I am really sorry for reading this
My condolences to his family, relatives and friends.
The PF community and me as part of it will for sure miss his lively threads.

 

[Davephaelon]

When I first started reading and browsing the threads on PF I realized that Marcus was among the most knowledgeable and prolific contributors on here, selflessly providing educational guidance to the whole community, over a very long time. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

 

[EnumaElish]

My sincere condolences.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

@marcus now has a memorial badge

 

[Lord Crc]

My condolences to the family.

Marcus had a positively contagious enthusiasm for science, as well as being highly inclusive and patient.

As a layman I really enjoyed following his posts, especially in the Beyond the Standard Model, Astrophysics and Cosmology forums.

His contributions will be greatly missed.

 

[ohwilleke]

Hi everyone -- Marcus's son here. Thank you all for the love and warmth here in this thread.

To answer the question about "what happened", it was esophagus cancer -- we found out about it in September, but by that point it was advanced to a level where not much could be done. We tried anyway -- chemo, radiation, etc. But, well...

I know he cared a whole lot about all of you guys. When I would see him or talk to him on the phone, he would often update me on what was going on here on PF, and how he was starting a poll or posting a summary of various papers or whatever else he would do on a regular basis. I empathized with how he felt about PF, since my generation grew up with the internet and I thought it was wonderful to see him bonding as deeply with you guys as I've bonded with the online communities I'm part of.

You guys rock. Hugs to you all.

Thanks for letting us know. We will miss him dearly, as I am sure you will a hundred times more.

 

[kodama]

i will miss him. hopefully atty can continue his work on the bibliography

 

[gracy]

@marcus you are no more but your 24,546 posts will continue to help students. You will get blessings from students all over the world . You have done soul satisfying work. May you rest in peace. God bless you.

 

[johanw]

I just logged in after a long time and read this. How sad, and a big loss to PF. My condolences to his family and all PF members.

 

[samg1]

I don't know Marcus as I am a new member but RIP that's all I can say

 

[julcab12]

... My curiosity with QG started with him. Sad. A true educator.

 

[tade]

cancer is a horrible thing

 

[chwala]

RIP...its everyone's journey, time is the only variable, we are all heading there, we celebrate his life, rip Marcus

 

[jackmell]

I know firsthand some admirable qualities Marcus exhibited on this forum. Perhaps if the members wanted, we could offer an award yearly to someone that exemplified them.

 

[chasrob]

R.I.P.
"His good deeds go before him"

 

[julian]

I know firsthand some admirable qualities Marcus exhibited on this forum. Perhaps if the members wanted, we could offer an award yearly to someone that exemplified them.

I think something we have failed to acknowledge is the courage and bravery that Marcus showed by continuing to learn AND teach several months after what must have been devastating news that his cancer was in such an advanced stage.

I think a lot of us know a friend or family member (myself included) with cancer, and how helpless you can sometimes feel. Also how much treatments such as chemo knocks a person about.

I was trying to think of a way that Marcus could be remembered (aside from his numerous valuable posts) in order to inspire future members of PF, and I think jackmell's idea great. Maybe at some point in many months to come this idea could be realized, but could I suggest that the award be put to a vote and that you can only vote if you make £1 donation to a cancer research charity.

 

[Nugso]

I've not been posting too much on the forums lately, because of the thesis I'm working on, but I always talked to him on PM, and he always helped and answered me with kindness.

I thanked him personally back then, and I'd like to thank him now for everything he has done for me, and for all of us. RIP.

 

[MeJennifer]

May he rest in peace!

He liked this song very much:

 

[Monsterboy]

RIP Marcus

He was certainly one of PF's greatest contributors, he had a unique talent to make dumb people like me understand what he was talking about , although my interaction with him was extremely limited in the topics of GR, QM/QG etc (since its not my area) , I was lucky enough to interact with him on the topics of manned mission to Mars and probes to Ceres and Pluto.

His posts and replies gave me a warm feeling everytime and made me feel at home in PF.

 

[Tsu]

 

[megacal]

Very sad to hear Marcus has passed on.
He seemed like a good & decent man, helping others to understand great things, even those
like me who are mathematically challenged.

Would love to see what he looked like & see his bio if possible.

Sincere condolences to his family and all his many friends. I wish I had known him personally.

 

[Stephanus]

Very sad to hear Marcus has passed on.
He seemed like a good & decent man, helping others to understand great things, even those
like me who are mathematically challenged.

Would love to see what he looked like & see his bio if possible.

Sincere condolences to his family and all his many friends. I wish I had known him personally.

Yes he had answered me, too several times about cosmology.

 

[MTd2]

Hi everyone -- Marcus's son here. Thank you all for the love and warmth here in this thread.

To answer the question about "what happened", it was esophagus cancer -- we found out about it in September, but by that point it was advanced to a level where not much could be done. We tried anyway -- chemo, radiation, etc. But, well...

I know he cared a whole lot about all of you guys. When I would see him or talk to him on the phone, he would often update me on what was going on here on PF, and how he was starting a poll or posting a summary of various papers or whatever else he would do on a regular basis. I empathized with how he felt about PF, since my generation grew up with the internet and I thought it was wonderful to see him bonding as deeply with you guys as I've bonded with the online communities I'm part of.

You guys rock. Hugs to you all.

My condolences to you and your family.

I haven't visited PF for a while. So, one of these days, I was back to see his thread "Loop-and-allied QG bibliography" and I missed his presence. I found it really, really odd that he hadn't opened a new thread about this paper: "Conformal loop quantum gravity coupled to the Standard Model", by one of his favorite authors Rodolfo Gambini and Jorge Pullin. That would nr something that would keep him posting a post after post for all day quoting the paper and making with bold his favorite parts. So, I looked for his latest post, and it was from May 6th. Then, I found this thread.I am devastated. I am crying here... Why?!? I know, there is no why. I always thought of visiting him one day. I wanted to know him, but he kept his privacy. I'd like to know his ideas in a much more deeper and personal level. This is because he always my mind busy during very depressing times since he always kept sight of interesting things. It seems life is not only merely short. moreover, it is further shortened because we don't happen to live nearby, to live during similar times, or to communicate as much as we wanted.

He was always a personal star to me. I hope he can somehow forever shine to many people.

Rest in Peace, Marcus, my friend.