Mark E. Sharp

Mark E. Sharp

1949 - 2026

When Mark was born in a midwestern hospital with multiple birth defects, doctors told his parents he wouldn't live past the age of one month. On Sunday, he defied ableist medical standards and passed away peacefully at his Doylestown home, a respected 76-year-old brother, husband, father and grandpa. His disability forced Mark to innovate his way through life, leading to some extraordinary accomplishments. Mark attended high school in Maryland, and went on to receive a BA in Psychology from Clark University, an MA in Biochemistry from Duke University and a PhD in Communication, Information and Library Studies from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

In his career at Merck & Co., the National Institutes of Health, as a guest researcher for the National Library of Science, and an invited scholar at the University of Manchester, Mark contributed to the biomedical field through the advancement of library and information science and drug information. His hobbies included composing and listening to music, especially jazz. Mark had a way of making his voice heard, and wheeling himself to unexpected places. He worked toward social justice, fighting to end apartheid in South Africa and support Palestinian liberation. He was a fearless advocate for people mistreated in a way he could relate to.

Mark is survived by his loving wife Celia, their children Marie and Cruz, three adoring grandchildren, his siblings Elizabeth, David, Nicholas, Saichon, Amparo, Cesar, Humberto, Janet, Pablo, Gladys, Consuelo, Balmore, Carmina and Charlie, and their families. He is predeceased by Donald and Marietta Sharp.

A service to honor Mark will take place at 3:00 pm on Friday, March 13, 2026 at the BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2040 Street Road, Warrington, PA 18976.

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