Mark James Dr. Banks

Dr. Mark James Banks, 71, died Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at his Camp Hill, Pa., home with his wife, Mary Ellen, and his son, Karl, at his side.
He had lived nearly three years with stage 4 colon cancer with a positive, hopeful and curious wonder about his disease despite the realization that his prognosis was very poor. His personality, attitude, and marvelous sense of humor made it possible for him to meet his goal to make the best of each day. This enabled Mark to encourage, cheer and love everyone he encountered allowing them to feel comfort, strength and energy. In return, he received the fortitude to face his final challenge of life.
Mark was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Chester and Mary Banks and was educated in public and parochial schools. He graduated from Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y., with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Mark married in June of 1968 to Mary Ellen Sheremeta Banks, and two months later, he began a two-year enlistment in the U.S. Army, leading to service as an operating room technician in Vietnam.
Upon discharge from the military, Mark embarked on his goal of becoming a college professor, which culminated in receiving a Ph.D. in communication in 1981 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He retired in 2010, as a full professor from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Before his position at Slippery Rock, he had taught at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Alverno College and Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.
Surviving are Mary Ellen Banks, his wife of 49 years; his son, Karl, daughter-in-law, Cynthia, and granddaughter, Juniper, all of Oakland, Calif.; his siblings, Eleanore Weimer of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Chester Carl Banks of Lewiston, N.Y., and Joyce Salda, Santa Barbara, Calif.; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were part of Mark's life.
In the eight weeks before his death, Mark had visitors from many of these family and friends and enjoyed their company, compassion, laughter and presence. These important people traveled from Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Florida, California, Ohio and throughout Pennsylvania, honoring Mark's invitation to come to his continuous Bon Voyage Open House. Plus, he received telephone calls of cheer and encouragement from friends in Australia, Germany and England.
Importantly, the family wants to thank all the wonderful people who made life a continuing goal for Mark: the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, the Lebanon Veteran Affairs Medical Center and its Camp Hill Outpatient Unit, the Palliative Care Center at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical and the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Since 2014, all of these professionals gave kind, compassionate and life-sustaining care to a very appreciative man and his family.
As a reflection on Mark's life please contemplate: "When you've seen beyond yourself then you may find Peace of mind is waiting there And the time will come when you see we're all one And life flows on within you and without you," George Harrison.
BANKS - At the wish of Mark James Banks, who died Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, there will be no service.
He made a donation of his earthly body to the nonprofit agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Humanity Gifts Registry for anatomical study and research.
If you wish to make a donation in Mark's honor, please consider organizations he supported: Habitat for Humanity of Puerto Rico, the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Medecins Sans Frontieres, National Public Radio, or the Coalition for Christian Outreach.