I'm shocked to read this. I've only talked to Mark once a couple months ago and felt his deep interest in the mechanics of the Swiss society, I think he kept his enthusiasm and curiosity well after having settled in. We also talked about how he percieved the lack of English ressources for expats in Switzerland and that his experience was the motivation to start the forum for these who migrate to Switzerland after him. It was his idea, work and money that provided me with one of the most interesting forums I use.

Very sad news...I am in shock as I am fairly new to this forum and he was the one person I knew more about. He seemed to be a great guy!
My thoughts are with his family and his fiance. May God give them comfort during this difficult time.

RIP Mark

Rest in peace young man.

Your tireless work in this amazing place on the internet has helped countless thousands feel their way around a strange and wonderful land. I never had the pleasure of meeting you but feel, like I'm so sure many others do, that I know you.

My sincerest condolences to your loved and close ones.

What a shock.

Rest in Peace Mark, you really were 'The Architect' of so many friendships here, someone who truly made a difference.

I am lost for words. This is the loss of a significant force in all of our lives and a really top guy.

Others have written much more eloquently, but I wanted to express my sadness at this news and send my condolences to Mark's family, fiancee & friends.

This is such sad news. I never met Mark, but just from reading his posts on the EF and from being able to use, over and over again, such a great resource myself, I can only come to the conclusion that he must have been a wonderful person. I wish I had met him.

Kate

It is so sad to hear this.
I can only say thank you, Mark. You truly made a difference in many people's lives.

Thanks Mark, thanks for opening a window into our world.

Wow, I am in shock. Just last night I was talking with some other EF members about how nice of a person Mark is, how much knowledge he has and was willing to share... and how generous to start the forum and support it for the benefit of us all. He has made a difference in so many lives here. I know he definitely has in mine.

For someone I met in person just a couple of times, he still has made an ever-lasting impression, and will be greatly missed.

I will be happy to provide support to the EF Team if I am able to help in some way (in additional to donating financially).

What an incredible person to have helped so many people including myself to start a new life over in Switzerland. He always had time to answer problems and was a helping hand at the other end of the computer, a true friend although I never had the pleasure to meet in person. Thank you for your help Mark, my thoughts are with you’re your family and friends at this sad time.

I'm shocked. I only met Mark a few times myself, but his generosity in providing this forum simply amazed me. My condolences to his family.

Edit 24 hours later - I'm still shocked. What has been lost to us all is a good strong heart and mind. The world needs these people. A memory that came back to me yesterday was a discussion we had at the "Blue Oyster", maybe the first EF drinks evening. Mark's knowledge and passion for Japanese text characters and their construction made me realise that he was not an ordinary guy. He will be missed for what he was, and was likely to become. As others have said, this tragic event can give us all motivation to give something rather than take, and be the best we can be.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Mark, but in this forum I can see his lasting legacy to the expat community in Switzerland, and for that we are all truly thankful.

RIP mate

This is probably the painful post I have ever written, but I cannot imagine the pain of his family members and those closest to him.

I met Mark a few times, so can't claim to know him that well, but in those few meetings it became clear that he is a great guy.

His generosity seemed to know no bounds, and as he talked of the projects in which he had been involved, I was stunned and impressed at the way he gave his time so freely with a good heart.

His work creating EF has enabled a lot of people to solve many problems and make the most of their time in Switzerland. He has personally helped a number of people too, and I count myself amongst these.

This is the only time when I will speak for others, but it is clear Mark will be sorely missed by us all, and touched a lot of lives.

dave

I really can't think of what to say that has not been said already - our thoughts are with Mark's family at this time....

This is truly devastating news. My heart goes out to Marks family and friends. Words fail me.
RIP

Thanks for your generosity and hard work Mark. One more person who never met you misses you.

I am so shocked.

I only met Mark 3 times and can only reiterate what has been said by everyone else. Mark was a true gent, someone who clearly cared for the lives of other people and really did make a difference to those lives. Thanks to Mark and this Forum my transition to Switzerland has been made so much easier.

On Sunday I lost a close friend to a heart attack aged only 44 and now I am just numb.

Rest peacefully Mark.

Again, I am not someone who knew Mark that well, but certainly enough to have a chat with at Talacker or the Xmas party. As someone in the middle of a berievement myself, i can empathize what his family must be going through.

I can only thank Mark for all the work he put into setting this forum up. I cannot think that there is a country in the world where the local language isn't English (or even where it is actually!) that could possibly have been easier to move to than Switzerland...and this is 100% down to his brainchild, the forum.
I hope we can continue his legacy by helping thousands more easily transition into Switzerland and become totally at home once they arrive here, and welcome them into a thriving community with so much to offer.

Thank you Mark, for making my and so many other people's lives so much easier, in a selfless, no profit way, you will probably never know how many people's lives you have helped.

Rest in Peace and rest assured your legacy will live on, you were an inspiration.

Not sure what to say, just shocked. I was lucky enough to meet both Mark and Lynn a while ago before I even knew about EF and found them both to be lovely people. Completely lost for words.