Mark Lawrence Tyrna Swidler

It is announced that on November 7, 2014, Mark Swidler and his cancer died. While Mark would have loved for this outcome to have been the result of a strong and mutual fight to the finish, it was actually the end of a five year period of a near continuous series of capitulations on Mark's part. An attempt was made to negotiate a settlement, perhaps subdividing the body in a manner that would allow both to live. While the cancer could see the logic in this approach, it felt a compromise would be a clear violation of its "Oath of Malignancy." Although the negotiations failed, perhaps such efforts proved a distraction for the cancer and contributed to the lengthy period from prognosis to death: a period spent loving and laughing with Mark's one true love of 48 years, his wife Wendi; and his incredible sister Ann Swidler; his wonderful nephew Avi Fischer; and his very special nieces, Joanne McNamara and Leah Fischer; and all his very many wonderful friends whom he loved as a family. If there is any consolation in Mark's forced intimacy with cancer, it is that while they will forever be buried in the same grave, the cancer will get no mention on the headstone. Mark's mother, Gretchen Swidler, was a uniquely wise and perceptive individual. She told Mark that at the end of one's life, the measure of its success is not how happy you had been - - not that feelings of joy were unimportant - - but that the proper measure of a life well spent was satisfaction: Were you satisfied that you lived by your principles and acted with truth and integrity? Were you satisfied that you were open with others and genuinely pleased for their successes and that you were generous with your heart and material gifts? Were you satisfied with the effort and energy you devoted to work, in support of friends and in embracing strangers? Were you satisfied that those closest to you, family and friends, felt embraced and supported by your love and affection? Were you satisfied that you were as critical of yourself as you were of others and that you strived to be better and to hold yourself to high standards? Did you leave the world a better place? In these things Mark died satisfied with his life. Service and interment private. Donations may be made to Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Dr., Rockville, MD 20850.