Mark Israel Smith-Soto

I have been a close friend of Mark's cousin Carmen Wyatt-Hayes since we were room mates in college. I only met Mark a couple of times but I recognized him as a very special person and wanted to know him better. As life progressed I would hear Carmen speak of him fondly and I felt I had missed knowing this special soul better. Now I am reading some of his poems so I can know him but sadly only in absentia. Fortunately it is a door into a wise heart.

I will miss Mark's generous and gentle spirit and his masterful verse. His presence here in the Triad was such a gift to poets with whom he shared his wisdom as a writer. Though I did not attend UNCG, I considered him as a mentor, and I was humbled by this kind review of my poetry collection. He took time to be my friend and to provide words of guidance and support.

Mark had the biggest heart -- he would have saved the whole world if he could have. I was blessed to be his friend, and to learn from him as a poet and a man.

As fine a fellow as he was a poet. I am grateful to have known Mark and to have savored his wit and benefited from his generosity. It was a pleasure to joke with him. I will always be a fan of his art, which seemed casual as conversation and came, I know, from hard application to craft. In his verse, he could could find more by looking out his kitchen window than any poet I ever read. I am deeply saddened by his physical absence, but glad to have his wistful, whimsical, heart-stopping poems....

A very special gentleman and an honored member of his community. He will be sorely missed. NM Leland Fuerstman

Mark was a friend and mentor to me for many years, and I am so sad to read about his death. I own all of his poetry books and will certainly buy the new one when it comes out. I will hold his wife and his other family members in the light Karol Neufeld

I first met Mark in 2012 during my undergraduate days at UNCG. I would go to his office in between classes and we would play a few games of Chess for about an hour or two a few times per week. Over the years since, we would occasionally meet at local coffee shops, UNCG library and other establishments for more intense chess battles. Even though Mark was a fierce competitor over the board, he was a gentle man at heart. He would often ask me how my week was going and asked about my life and...

A great loss to those of us fortunate to have known him. A truly gentle, lovely man, husband, friend and poet.

My deep condolences for the family. He was a wonderful man who enlightened many of us and spread the love of poetry.