Dear Ruth and Sarah, I am so very sorry to hear about Mark. So many of my happiest memories of graduate school are to do with his scintillating and profound classes, his generosity with his time outside of class, and his warmth and funniness on all occasions. He very kindly invited me over to help me with a funding application (his guidance made it a success), and I remember feeling so torn in my attention, because Mark was going out of his way to lay out important principles for proving the quality, relevance, and importance of one’s research, but Nellie was licking out my ears for me, which surely Mark would never have done. Mark also conscientiously insisted on giving me home-made minestrone afterward – he never saw a graduate student whom he wouldn’t materially assist! Another thing that sticks in my mind is his kindness and politeness, and gently sardonic manner, when it seemed that I had been accessing very dubious websites on his computer – in fact, I was using a currency exchange website for correctly filing conference expenses, but there were certainly a lot of ‘x’s in the website title. Mark’s unflappable kindness lives on, because he is one of the chief models that I and so many others have used for how to treat our own students well. With love and sorrow, Emma

Dear Ruth and Family, I want to express my sympathies for your loss. I had the good fortune to learn from Mark as both a graduate student and research assistant. I carry memories of his kindness and good humor, and how he encouraged me intellectually to read closely and understand things in new ways. May you find comfort in his memory.

Dear Ruth and Family, John and I extend our sincere condolences and offer our help with anything you may need upon your return to our little condo community. Reading of Mark's life - family, academe and other professional successes - makes us wish we had had the opportunity to know him. You will have to let us know sometime what an appropriate haircut for the Canadian border officials is! With full hearts, John and Fiona

Dear Ruth and family, I am so sorry for your loss and to hear of Mark’s passing. He was a valued mentor during my time at Carleton, as well as being such an engaging mind and impressive scholar. I genuinely learned and gained so much from him. My condolences to you all, and I hope you will find comfort in his memory.

Dear Ruth and family, our sincere condolences on the loss of your husband, father, and grandfather. What a remarkable life story! We hope you will find comfort in your shared memories. your new neighbors

My heartfelt condolences go out to all of you on the loss of your beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Mark had such a generous soul and love for his family. He touched so many lives during his time. In the days ahead, I hope the wonderful memories of him will comfort you.

Dear Emma, Zelda, and Avíe: We regret immensely Mark’s passing. We knew him as a loving, gentle, kind and generous man, with an enchanting sense of humour and a deep love of life. We enjoyed his brilliance and wit, and saw the pain of his decline and the fortitude with which he faced it. It is with admiration and delight that we see his humanitarian values, love for social justice, and love for knowledge living in his children and grandchildren. May his memory be for a blessing.

We regret immensely Mark’s passing. We knew him as a gentle, kind and generous man, with an enchanting sense of humour and a deep love of life. We enjoyed his brilliance and wit, and saw the pain of his decline and the fortitude with which he faced it. It is with admiration and delight that we see his humanitarian values living in his children and grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing.

Dear Emma and family, Sending deepest condolences to you all. I never met your dadhusbandgrandfather but knowing Emma shows me clearly what a wonderful man he was. Take care of yourself. Hold your memories tight and may his memory be a blessing.

Dear Ruth and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Mark was the most generous teacher and colleague I have ever known. I first met him at CSECS in 2001 when I was a PhD student and his Society and Sentiment had just been published. Let me take you for lunch at the British Library when we will both be there next summer, he said. And he did. We stayed in touch for some 15 years: he was always a kind, thoughtful, and deeply caring mentor. He set an example of tikkun olam in everything he did - and he has inspired so many of us to think and work in ways that deepen and broaden our world. I am grateful to have known him.

Dear Ruth and family, I am so sad to learn of Mark's death. The past few years must have been difficult ones and you have all my sympathies. Mark was an inspiring scholar and a generous interlocutor. He has left an important body of work. I feel privileged to have gotten the chance to know him a bit.

Emma, Zelda, Mark and Avie, Condolences on the passing of your father, father-in-law and grandfather. What an extraordinary person! I learned a lot about him talking with Mark Gillespie at a recent evening at Darchei Noam. He left a powerful legacy to his family and his students and all who knew him. May his memory forever be a blessing.

Dear Ruth and family, We were saddened to hear of Mark's death - he had a rich life in academe and family. I am convinced that somewhere he and Blair are discussing books once more. May you have every comfort possible in this loss. Sincerely, Sandy and Duncan

Dear Sarah, Ruth, and family; I’m so very sorry for your loss. Mark was such a kind and generous man, just as I know he was an inspiring teacher. I will treasure my memories of being invited to at least two Passover Seders when the grandkids were little and I was Sarah’s graduate student: Mark seemed to get great pleasure out of throwing tiny “frogs” and “locusts” at the children — and thus it was clear that he was a wonderful grandfather, too. May his memory be for a blessing.

Dear Ruth, Sarah, and Emma, I am so sorry for your loss. Mark changed my life forever when I took an MA course with him at UBC in 2001. For over 20 years, he was my most trusted advisor, my most clear-sighted reader, and a profoundly generous friend. I will miss him deeply. May his memory be for a blessing.