Mark Alexander Seiden

Mark A. Seiden, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, professor, and author, passed away on March 1, 2026 in Silver Spring, MD after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. Mark left a legacy of passion for athletic pursuits, literature, photography, music, and family. Born on August 26, 1941, in the Bronx, New York, to Norman Seiden and Julia Spiegelman Seiden, he was a proud alumnus of Bronx High School of Science (1958) and Hunter College (1962). He earned his PhD in English Literature from Cornell University in 1966.

Mark taught Literature and Writing for nearly 40 years, notably at Tufts University (1967-1971) and Framingham State College (1976-2011). His commitment to social justice led him to the Freedom Ride Summer of 1968, an experience that deepened his engagement with Black Literature and culture. In the 1970s he taught High School in rural Maine and for Upward Bound in New York City.

Mark enjoyed a seemingly limitless lust for life and learning, and was devoted to his family. He loved to spend time in nature, listen to Bob Dylan, recite Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson from memory, read and re-read his favorite authors, play with his grandchildren, golf, and swim as much as possible in a single day. An early hobby turned into a lifelong passion: 70 years of vivid photographs include portraiture, landscapes, nature, narratives, and photojournalism. Mark was never without his beloved harmonicas, bongos, and djembes. He prolifically wrote free verse poetry and songs. His thoughtful books A Farewell Album for my Parents and Poetry Bum, combine his gifts for photography, writing, and song. After retiring to Florida, Mark played golf daily, became an award-winning golf columnist for the Venice Gondolier, and published a collection of essays, Golf’s Old Magic.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Renee Montana (Silver Spring, MD), his devoted children Serge Seiden (Washington, DC), Fern Seiden (Nashua, NH), Jana Star Kadden (Natick, MA), and Elena Rose McNally (Natick, MA), Morganne Montana (New York, NY), eight cherished grandchildren, brothers Michael Seiden (Monsey, NY) and his wife Kathy, Matthew Seiden and his wife, Mary Davidson (Washington, DC), and sister Fern Regina Seiden (Stockholm, Sweden) and husband Mats Reiniusson. His beloved grandchildren were the light of his life: Noah and Lily Doherty, Gavin Seiden, Siggy, Manny, and Ceci Kadden, and Dahlia and Vivian McNally.

Final Editing

Pestering poetry toward publication:chiseling epitaphs in stone.Tombstone poems,skulls and angel-wings,humbly suggestinghow we would be known.

-Mark Seiden, a Farewell Album for My Mother

In lieu of donations, please consider a gift to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.