Mark F. Weiner

Mark F. Weiner, exemplary father, husband, friend, mentor, author, and CEO, passed away on December 10, 2023, at the age of 68. Mark is survived by his wife, Braden Bledsoe, his sons, Graham and Cameron Weiner, his sister, Lesley Weiner, and his mother, Frances Weiner. His beloved father, Theodore "Pug" Weiner, died in 2013. Mark was a giant in the field of public relations research. He evangelized the use of data and measurement to deliver actionable insights and advance the industry. It's ironic, however, that a man so focused on measurement would possess characteristics that were immeasurable - an ethereal sense of kindness and positivity, and the ability to embrace each day with an open heart.

Mark was born in Paterson, New Jersey on May 4, 1955, and raised in Wayne, New Jersey. In high school, he embraced the spirit of the 1960s with long hair, classic Rock, and Vietnam war protests. His love of music was cemented in this era - The Beach Boys and The Beatles were his favorites. Mark's childhood friends were his lifelong best friends, a testament to his loyalty and social connectivity. He cared deeply for people and was always one to call and stay in touch. Mark attended American University for two years, took a gap year, and then transferred to University of Maryland, where he graduated as an English major with a proud 2.7 GPA. His interests were always more "extracurricular." In his early twenties, Mark played the guitar, kept a dream journal, and drew attention as a suave disco dancer.

Mark met Nancy Worrilow, his first wife, in 1976. They both attended University of Maryland and waited tables at The Racetrack in DC. They lived young, wild, and free in downtown Manhattan throughout the 1980s and then settled in Fairfield, Connecticut. Mark and Nancy were together for 23 years and had two sons, Graham and Cameron. Their separation was admirably amicable, and they always remained close friends. As a father, Mark was affectionate, loving, and committed. He would spend hours indulging his son's imaginations and rolling around in the grass. Mark encouraged them to think differently, be kind, and dream big. His actions as a father embodied the principles, "treat others the way you want to be treated," and "if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all."

Mark's values centered around friendship, love, and family. He refused to participate in drama or gossip. He never cared much about finances, material possessions, or social status. He was not particularly organized or well planned... Mark's focus was ceaselessly on the present. He was quick to laugh, joke, and strike up a conversation with a stranger. Social interaction invigorated him, and he knew how to listen intently. Mark's dry sense of humor was full of wit, charm, and grace. His knowledge of history, architecture, and music was inspiring, and he was a natural teacher.

In 2005, Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 thymoma cancer. The first several doctors gave him just a few months to live. Mark's strength, bravery, and zen allowed him to miraculously survive another 18 years which he fondly described as his "second life." In 2007, Mark met Braden at a work conference in New Orleans. Braden was drawn to his brilliant blue eyes, somehow both piercing and gentle. They married in 2011, and lived in Nolita Manhattan, then Old Greenwich, Connecticut, then finally in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Mark loved Braden deeply, and affectionately referred to her as "my bride." They loved to travel, but above all else, they enjoyed spending time with their adored niece and nephew, Isles and Clary.

Mark was a legend and pioneer in the field of PR, and he loved his work in a rare way. A New Yorker through and through, Mark fittingly began his career at the New York Times. He learned the craft of research and measurement at Copernicus Marketing, and then in 1994, he founded Medialink Research, which then became Delahaye Medialink. As a member of the executive board, Mark helped to lead its 1999 IPO on the NASDAQ. As CEO and President, Mark grew Delahaye Medialink to become one of the world's largest providers of corporate communications and PR research. After Delahaye Medlialink was acquired by Cision, Mark was hired to direct Ketchum's Global Research practice. In 2008, he became CEO of PRIME Research, where he led 500+ employees. Over the course of 10 years, Mark worked with Fortune 500 companies, and grew the business into one of the world's largest PR research consultancies. PRIME was acquired by Cision in 2018, and he served as Chief Insights Officer. Most recently, Mark worked for Cognito and PublicRelay, and then retired in February 2023. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mark was a beloved mentor. He led from a place of passion and compassion. He motivated through love, with an innate sense of dignity and savoir faire. Unlike most CEOs, his employees and clients were his friends, and he wasn't afraid to take a nap at the office.

Mark was the author of two category best sellers, "Unleashing the Power of PR" and "PR Technology, Data and Insights." His books have been used in the curricula at University of North Carolina, University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and many others. Mark presented to audiences in Australia, Canada, Peru, Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Sweden, Brazil, Ukraine, and the UK. His command of the stage was without question, and he spoke with great poise and panache. Mark sat on the editorial advisory boards of and contributed frequently to Ragan PR Daily, PR News, and PRSA's Strategy and Tactics. In 2013, he was inducted into The PR News Hall of Fame. He was a member of The Arthur Page Society, a Trustee of The Museum of Public Relations, and a Director of The Institute for Public Relations, for which he was the past Chair of the Measurement Commission. Mark was the 2018 recipient of the Jack Felton Medal awarded by the IPR for lifetime achievement in communications research. He sat on the Advisory Council at the University of Florida and planned to serve as an Adjunct Professor there in the near future.

Mark lived with a childlike sense of wonder, joy, and love. He was eternally present, kind, and gentle in all his interactions. Even in the face of terminal illness and countless health challenges, Mark never complained or showed fear. He had the uncanny ability to ignore the negative and absorb the positive. Mark loved the following expressions: "Today is your day!" and "Begin simply, but simply begin." His classic, elegant style, even for the most casual of occasions, would have made Cary Grant proud. Mark's signature look was black leather Chelsea boots, colorful socks, dark blue slim-cut jeans, white pressed button down, and a navy-blue blazer with a white pocket square. Imagine him like this, stepping out of his Porsche 911, arriving at Heaven's gate. His death is an enormous loss to a world where unconditional love and kindness is so rare. Mark's legacy of goodness will radiate and ripple throughout the universe.

A Celebration of Mark's life will be held in New York City at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Institute for Public Relations and The Museum of Public Relations.

https://instituteforpr.org/contribute/

https://prmu.se/donate