Re: Portland police mourn death of officer
I met Mark when he was in high school, and I was a substitute teacher. He was too good to be true, but he was. A classic gentleman at age 15 -- intelligent and kind and very passionate about history, which is what I taught. Both of us thought he would be a history teacher. When he told me he was going into criminal justice and when he announced that he was going to be a cop, I was shocked. But, as I followed his career I knew he was doing so much more on the streets than he could have done in a classroom. Mark was a true gentle spirit, and he had a belief in the inner goodness of people, even those on the bottom of the societal heap. He wasn't a pushover. He couldn't be manipulated. He was just wise for his age or any age. He knew that in the end, we are all the same with the same needs for respect and love and kindness.
I don't understand why Mark was taken from our scene when he is needed so much. I do know that he left a legacy of giving his all for what he believed in -- the basic dignity of man. We all will miss him so much.
"Allan Mathews"
(Not verified)
Mon, Jan 28, 2008 at 07:58 PM
204 days