Spring Break
Retiree dies at 55
Tim Martin
Issue date: 2/7/03 Section: Campus Life
Moments before stepping on the commencement floor for graduation, Mark L. Haines, the special events coordinator from 1997-2001, gave thousands of soon-to-be graduates a pep talk.
His voice boomed through the Lantz Fieldhouse speakers as he calmed the students waiting in anticipation to receive their diplomas.
Mr. Haines' final words to the seniors before they hit the commencement floor,were always, "It's time to go to a party."
Mr. Haines, 55, and a 25-year employee of Eastern who retired in 2001, died Wednesday at his home in Charleston.
Joanna Gossett, a retired Eastern employee in the student union department, hopes her friend goes on to the ultimate party.
"I have known him since he was 15 years old," she said. "And I had a working relationship with him for 25 years, and he was my best friend. He loved Eastern."
Mr. Haines, aside from his five years as special events coordinator, worked 12 years as the director of arrangements at the student union with Gossett.
But his five years organizing the graduation ceremony are where his biggest marks were left.
"It felt very empty this past year (at fall 2002 commencement) because Mark wasn't there to give his speech," said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations. "We didn't get to hear him; we missed him then and we miss him now."
Gossett said Mr. Haines' passion extended beyond the
graduating students.
"He always called back every parent (who had questions)," she said. "He wrote out every graduation ticket by hand, and he included little personal notes on there wishing the student and their family 'good luck.'"
Mr. Haines was born Sept. 15, 1947, in Watseka, son of Lewis G. Haines and Frances Samuelson. Lewis G. Haines preceded his son in death, and Samuelson survives and is currently residing in Milford.
Also surviving is one brother, Seth, who resides in Tallahassee, Fla.
"Mark was very talented and he was very good at his job," said Marty Hackler, public functions supervisor, who took over Mr. Haines' position this year. "He was a good guy that cared about the students and cared about Eastern."
Mr. Haines, who served as a communication specialist during the Vietnam conflict in the U.S. Army, was loyal to his country and Eastern, Nilsen said.
"He had a compassion, a loyalty to Eastern," she said. "He took great pride in the university and in doing his job the best way possible. He had all the attributes cherished in a university employee."
Gossett will remember Mr. Haines as the proto-typical Eastern employee.
"Only thing I can say is that if everybody cared as much about Eastern as him, we would never have to worry about Eastern," she said.
Visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and services at 1 p.m. Saturday, both at the Knapp Funeral Home in Milford.
His voice boomed through the Lantz Fieldhouse speakers as he calmed the students waiting in anticipation to receive their diplomas.
Mr. Haines' final words to the seniors before they hit the commencement floor,were always, "It's time to go to a party."
Mr. Haines, 55, and a 25-year employee of Eastern who retired in 2001, died Wednesday at his home in Charleston.
Joanna Gossett, a retired Eastern employee in the student union department, hopes her friend goes on to the ultimate party.
"I have known him since he was 15 years old," she said. "And I had a working relationship with him for 25 years, and he was my best friend. He loved Eastern."
Mr. Haines, aside from his five years as special events coordinator, worked 12 years as the director of arrangements at the student union with Gossett.
But his five years organizing the graduation ceremony are where his biggest marks were left.
"It felt very empty this past year (at fall 2002 commencement) because Mark wasn't there to give his speech," said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations. "We didn't get to hear him; we missed him then and we miss him now."
Gossett said Mr. Haines' passion extended beyond the
graduating students.
"He always called back every parent (who had questions)," she said. "He wrote out every graduation ticket by hand, and he included little personal notes on there wishing the student and their family 'good luck.'"
Mr. Haines was born Sept. 15, 1947, in Watseka, son of Lewis G. Haines and Frances Samuelson. Lewis G. Haines preceded his son in death, and Samuelson survives and is currently residing in Milford.
Also surviving is one brother, Seth, who resides in Tallahassee, Fla.
"Mark was very talented and he was very good at his job," said Marty Hackler, public functions supervisor, who took over Mr. Haines' position this year. "He was a good guy that cared about the students and cared about Eastern."
Mr. Haines, who served as a communication specialist during the Vietnam conflict in the U.S. Army, was loyal to his country and Eastern, Nilsen said.
"He had a compassion, a loyalty to Eastern," she said. "He took great pride in the university and in doing his job the best way possible. He had all the attributes cherished in a university employee."
Gossett will remember Mr. Haines as the proto-typical Eastern employee.
"Only thing I can say is that if everybody cared as much about Eastern as him, we would never have to worry about Eastern," she said.
Visitation will be held 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and services at 1 p.m. Saturday, both at the Knapp Funeral Home in Milford.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.