It is still hard to believe. Mark Haines is dead. The LGBT activist and founder of the popular website, Mark’s List, was struck down in his prime at age 54. Mark was hit by a truck while attempting to cross Highway 1 in Duck Key. He was near mile marker 59, a particularly dark part of the only road in and out of the Florida Keys. Thrown toward the road’s center by the impact, Mark was subsequently hit by two SUVs, each trying to swerve out of the way of the truck, each unaware that he was in their path.
I knew and worked with Mark for years, culminating in his brief tenure as the editor-in-chief of Mark Magazine. He was then, as always, spirited, determined and quite the eccentric—his long blond mane of hair whipping around his face as he bicycled to work and back home along the streets of Wilton Manors. And it was on his bike that I last saw Mark less than a week ago, as he screeched to a halt to allow two ducks to cross the road behind the local Dairy Queen.
We talked briefly about his astonishing weight loss—some 70 pounds over the past year. Ironically, he was motivated to lose the weight in preparation for the Smart Ride, the annual 195 biking event that travels from Miami to Key West over a two-day period. It was going to be Mark’s first time riding, and he hit me up for a $100 donation for the fundraiser which ultimately earned $1,109,924 this year for HIV/AIDS foundations.
Mark had just finished the first leg of the trip, and celebrated with dinner at Hawk’s Key Resort where the day’s ride ended. With him was his brother, Jim, who had traveled from his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, to participate in the Smart Ride. When Jim left the dinner to walk to their motel room three-miles away, he never thought it would be the last time he saw his brother alive.
“”I have been riding for several years, and when he told me about his training, I thought that sounded too good to be true. But he wasn’t exaggerating,” Jim told the Sun Sentinel. “He had plenty of reasons to be upbeat at the end of that first day’s ride, and he was feeling good about it.”
When Jim woke up alone the next morning in the motel room they shared, he thought that Mark stayed at Hawk’s Cay Resort. It wasn’t until 10 a.m. Saturday morning that he heard the unbelievable truth: his brother was dead.
News of the fatal accident was not shared with most bikers on the Smart Ride, who didn’t learn of the tragedy until safely completely their trek in Key West.
“He died instantly… after the best day and the best ride of his life,” his nephew Matthew Haines said.
As the news spread, many took to the Internet to share their fond memories of a man who was determined to help the LGBT community however he could.
Of the postings, perhaps deejay Miik Martorell of Miami said it best: Oh my god, Mark Haines. I honestly can’t believe you’re gone. From the moment I met you, you inspired me. You created an entire new industry by bringing your dreams to reality. You became a success where others dared to dream. Your enthusiasm and love for what you do has been a guiding light to so many of us in the community. I don’t know how we will ever fill the incredible void that your passing leaves us.
I’m so saddened right now not only because of your passing, but because it comes while you were doing what you always do which is inspiring the community around you through your unselfish actions. While you were out raising money for those in need in our community, this tragic incident stripped us all of the dearest friend we as a community could ever know.
The impact that you have had on so many (and especially myself) will never be forgotten. I’d like to say that we can all find some comfort in knowing that your passing with provide another angel in heaven to watch over us, but you were already an angel here on earth, so it hurts even more to see you go. May the world always know that through your example, we all can see that our dreams can indeed become a reality!
I love you Mark.
A celebration of life memorial will take place at the Pride Center in Wilton Manors at 1pm on Saturday November 22, 2014.
RIP Mark Haines (1960-2014)
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