Mark E. Sharp

Mark E. Sharp, born in 1949, passed away peacefully at his home in Doylestown on March 8, 2026, at the age of 76. Defying medical predictions that he would not survive beyond his first month, Mark lived a remarkable life shaped by his determination and creativity in the face of significant physical challenges. His experiences led him to become a passionate advocate for social justice, working to end apartheid in South Africa and supporting Palestinian liberation, while fearlessly speaking up for those who were marginalized in ways he understood deeply.

Mark graduated from high school in Maryland before earning 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. He made significant contributions to the biomedical field through his work at Merck & Co., the National Institutes of Health, as a guest researcher at the National Library of Medicine, and as an invited scholar at the University of Manchester, advancing library and information science and drug information services. He found great joy in composing and listening to music, particularly jazz, and had a distinctive way of making his presence known, often wheeling himself into unexpected places and situations.

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