Marc and I became friends the second semester of our junior year in high school and we became even better friends during our years at LSU. After college we stayed in frequent contact and got together a few times a year, especially during football season. Marc and his wife, Cyndi, were married for 16 years and had two children (Christopher and Michelle) when Marc died an untimely death at age 43 of pancreatic cancer.
Marc's family moved to Camden from Mobile just before our sophomore year, however Marc was originally from "N'awlins" as anyone who spent more than 5 minutes with him knew. Marc was an outgoing guy and made many good friends among the classes of '74 and '75 - you guys and gals know who you are. Marc played defensive back on the football team; he was quick, tough, and enjoyed hitting. Marc also excelled in track at the half-mile distance. Marc took a keen interest in our senior musical "The Music Man" and we enjoyed talking about it for years afterwards.
After graduation Marc and I attended LSU. We didn't start out as roommates but eventually ended up that way. We managed to weed out a succession of other roommates, who couldn't "run with the big dogs" when it came to balancing classwork and partying. Tiger football was an obsession with Marc from the time he was in the cradle, perhaps earlier. I remember our final semester, when Marc had a bad cold, sitting through a late-season LSU-Alabama game. Cold rain fell throughout the game and Alabama won 3-0. I was ready to leave at halftime but Marc refused to walk away, which is pretty much how he was about almost everything.
During our college years we shared a love of sports, rock music, broiled flounder seasoned with Tony Chachere's, and 25-cent draft beer on Friday afternoons. Most importantly, we laughed a lot at the same stuff - many Monty Python segments come to mind. One weekend Marc was determined to boil crawfish to celebrate a friend's engagement. Not outside in a big pot on a propane burner - but INSIDE OUR APARTMENT ON AN ELECTRIC STOVE. It took a very long time, but the crawfish, corn, potatoes, etc. turned out great. Mark liked to discuss politics and history and even developed an appreciation for English literature, including Shakespeare's sonnets. After graduation Marc went into the insurance business and built a successful career.
Marc's parents, Joe and Joan, were very loving to Marc and kind and generous to his friends. Marc and Erin shared one of the strongest brother-sister bonds I've ever seen. When Marc met Cyndi, he knew he'd found "the one" and didn't let her get away. Marc became a devoted husband and a fine father to two wonderful kids.
I noticed several things about Marc over the years. He was a great people person, he made friends easily and kept them. Marc was determined to make life fun, not just for himself but for everyone around him. He always spoke his mind - you never had to wonder where Marc stood on a subject. There was a sort of fearlessness about Marc. I never knew him to be afraid of anyone or anything, or of taking a worthwhile chance.
During the final several weeks of his life Marc fought the good fight against a sudden, terrible, almost always-fatal affliction with courage and dignity. He never gave up or lost his laugh. The last time I saw Marc, he, Cyndi and I went over to Erin's for dinner. As I was leaving I reached to shake his hand but instead Marc gave me a bearhug for several seconds. I was surprised, but in hindsight I realize that I was still in denial. Marc knew that he was saying goodbye to me for the last time.
I take comfort in knowing that Marc's life was lived to the fullest. Let his early departure from this world remind us that tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any of us. So treat every single day as a gift. Call up that friend you haven't seen in a while. Be the best husband, wife, sibling, parent or grandparent you can be. Do something special this weekend. Plan that dream vacation. And please, laugh more - Marc will be laughing along with you.
Joe Miller (1975)
MARC JOSEPH HART
June 12, 1957 - August 20, 2000
Marc and I became friends the second semester of our junior year in high school and we became even better friends during our years at LSU. After college we stayed in frequent contact and got together a few times a year, especially during football season. Marc and his wife, Cyndi, were married for 16 years and had two children (Christopher and Michelle) when Marc died an untimely death at age 43 of pancreatic cancer.
Marc's family moved to Camden from Mobile just before our sophomore year, however Marc was originally from "N'awlins" as anyone who spent more than 5 minutes with him knew. Marc was an outgoing guy and made many good friends among the classes of '74 and '75 - you guys and gals know who you are. Marc played defensive back on the football team; he was quick, tough, and enjoyed hitting. Marc also excelled in track at the half-mile distance. Marc took a keen interest in our senior musical "The Music Man" and we enjoyed talking about it for years afterwards.
After graduation Marc and I attended LSU. We didn't start out as roommates but eventually ended up that way. We managed to weed out a succession of other roommates, who couldn't "run with the big dogs" when it came to balancing classwork and partying. Tiger football was an obsession with Marc from the time he was in the cradle, perhaps earlier. I remember our final semester, when Marc had a bad cold, sitting through a late-season LSU-Alabama game. Cold rain fell throughout the game and Alabama won 3-0. I was ready to leave at halftime but Marc refused to walk away, which is pretty much how he was about almost everything.
During our college years we shared a love of sports, rock music, broiled flounder seasoned with Tony Chachere's, and 25-cent draft beer on Friday afternoons. Most importantly, we laughed a lot at the same stuff - many Monty Python segments come to mind. One weekend Marc was determined to boil crawfish to celebrate a friend's engagement. Not outside in a big pot on a propane burner - but INSIDE OUR APARTMENT ON AN ELECTRIC STOVE. It took a very long time, but the crawfish, corn, potatoes, etc. turned out great. Mark liked to discuss politics and history and even developed an appreciation for English literature, including Shakespeare's sonnets. After graduation Marc went into the insurance business and built a successful career.
Marc's parents, Joe and Joan, were very loving to Marc and kind and generous to his friends. Marc and Erin shared one of the strongest brother-sister bonds I've ever seen. When Marc met Cyndi, he knew he'd found "the one" and didn't let her get away. Marc became a devoted husband and a fine father to two wonderful kids.
I noticed several things about Marc over the years. He was a great people person, he made friends easily and kept them. Marc was determined to make life fun, not just for himself but for everyone around him. He always spoke his mind - you never had to wonder where Marc stood on a subject. There was a sort of fearlessness about Marc. I never knew him to be afraid of anyone or anything, or of taking a worthwhile chance.
During the final several weeks of his life Marc fought the good fight against a sudden, terrible, almost always-fatal affliction with courage and dignity. He never gave up or lost his laugh. The last time I saw Marc, he, Cyndi and I went over to Erin's for dinner. As I was leaving I reached to shake his hand but instead Marc gave me a bearhug for several seconds. I was surprised, but in hindsight I realize that I was still in denial. Marc knew that he was saying goodbye to me for the last time.
I take comfort in knowing that Marc's life was lived to the fullest. Let his early departure from this world remind us that tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any of us. So treat every single day as a gift. Call up that friend you haven't seen in a while. Be the best husband, wife, sibling, parent or grandparent you can be. Do something special this weekend. Plan that dream vacation. And please, laugh more - Marc will be laughing along with you.