Mark thought of This World, as did Henry David Thoreau. That in life, we are in This World; When we die, we transcend to the Next World. To live in either of these Worlds, you can only do so, ONE World at a time. Mark is now peacefully in the Next World.

Dr. Mark James Banks, age 71, died September 29, 2017 at his Camp Hill, PA home with his wife, Mary Ellen and son, Karl at his side. He had lived nearly three years with Stage 4 Colon Cancer with a positive, hopeful, and curious wonder about his disease despite the realization that his prognosis was very poor. His personality, attitude, and marvelous sense of humor made it possible for him to meet his goal to make the best of each day. This enabled Mark to encourage, cheer, and love everyone he encountered allowing them to feel comfort, strength and energy. In return, he received the fortitude to face his final challenge of life.

Mark was born in Niagara Falls, NY to Chester and Mary Banks and was educated in public and parochial schools. He graduated from Canisius College, Buffalo, NY with a BA in English. Mark married in June 1968 to Mary Ellen Sheremeta Banks, and two months later began a 2 year enlistment in the United States Army, leading to service as an operating room technician in Vietnam. Upon discharge from the military, Mark embarked on his goal of becoming a college professor, which culminated in receiving a PhD in Communication from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1981. He retired in 2010 as a Full Professor from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his position at Slippery Rock, he had taught at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Alverno College and Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.

Surviving are: Mary Ellen Banks, wife of 49 years; son, Karl, daughter-in-law, Cynthia, and grand-daughter, Juniper all of Oakland, CA; in addition; siblings: Eleanore Weimer, Glen Ellyn, IL, Chester Carl Banks, Lewiston, NY, and Joyce Salda, Santa Barbara, CA. Also, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends were part of Mark's life. In the 8 weeks prior to his death Mark had visitors from many of these family and friends, and enjoyed their company, compassion, laughter and presence. These important people traveled from Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Florida, California, Ohio, and throughout Pennsylvania honoring Mark's invitation to come to his continuous Bon Voyage Open House. Plus, he received telephone calls of cheer and encouragement from friends in Australia, Germany and England.

Importantly, the family want to thank all the wonderful people who made life a continuing goal for Mark: Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, the Lebanon Veteran Affairs Medical Center and its Camp Hill Outpatient Unit, the Palliative Care Center at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical, and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Since 2014 all of these professionals gave kind, compassionate and life-sustaining care to a very appreciative man and his family.

At the wish of Dr. Banks there will be no service. He made a donation of his earthly body to the nonprofit agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Humanity Gifts Registry for anatomical study and research. If you wish to make a donation in Mark's honor, please consider organizations he supported: Habitat for Humanity of Puerto Rico, the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Doctors Without Borders, National Public Radio, or the Coalition for Christian Outreach.

As a reflection on Mark's Life please contemplate:

 When you've seen beyond yourself then you may find

 Peace of mind is waiting there

 And the time will come when you see we're all one

 And life flows on within you and without you

 -George Harrison