Mark Anderson Obituary

Anderson, Mark W. Journalist, thinker and survivor Mark W. Anderson, 51, of Chicago, IL passed away on March 2, 2015 at Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter, Glenview, IL after a yearlong battle against both cancer and Chicago Machine politics. Though the cancer spread, The Machine is said to be in remission. Born December 11, 1963 in Chicago he had several jobs, including one at a travel agency that introduced him to various parts of the European continent, before finding his place as a financial writer at Morningstar and other companies, bringing a creative verve to dry topics. He later went on to form his own small communications firm. Both a student and teacher of Chicago history and tavern culture and a lover in equal measure of rock, jazz and moments of quiet reflection, Anderson graduated from Columbia College with a B.A. in journalism in 2005. He is best known as a writer for NBC's Ward Room. In the tradition of Nelson Algren, he wrote of the faults of his beloved city but always believed in its capacity to be better. Through his writing and activism, he played significant roles in the elections of at least one Chicago alderman and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, and several acts of journalism that reverberate to this day. In keeping with his wishes, Anderson's body was cremated. His spirit will be present in a celebration of his life at Celtic Crossings (751 N. Clark, Chicago) from 2:30-6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8th. It will be as he was: full of kind words, colorful stories and occasional vulgarities.