Sawyer, Mark Quentin Was born to the union of Ernest and Theresa Sawyer on January 10, 1972. Mark was happily welcomed into the family by his older brother Michael and his Aunt Joyce (Kocher) who were both five years his senior. Mark graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in 1990 and later the University of Illinois where he majored in Political Science and became an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Upon his graduation in 1994, he continued his studies at the graduate level at the University of Chicago where he received a PhD in Political Science. Mark began teaching at UCLA in 1999. He co-founded the Race, Ethnicity, and Politics Program in the UCLA Department of Political Science. He published widely on racial, political, gender, immigration and coalition politics. His first book, "Racial Politics in Post Revolutionary Cuba," published by Cambridge University Press in 2006, earned critical acclaim and garnered major prizes in his field, including the Ralph J. Bunche Award from the American Political Science Association and the W. E. B. DuBois Award from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. Mark served as the Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Politics, Associate Director of the Center for American Politics and Public Policy, and Chair of the Interdepartmental Program in African American Studies from 2011 to 2013. He leaves behind his wife, Celia; his daughter, Nina; his parents, Ernest and Theresa; his brother, Michael; his, niece, Ashley; his nephew, Ellis and a host of other family members, friends and colleagues. Memorial Services for Mark Quentin Sawyer, PhD, will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2017, 2:00p.m. at St. Ignatius College Prep. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Public Broadcast System (PBS) online at www.pbs.com

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Published by Chicago Sun-Times on Apr. 10, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Mark Sawyer

Sponsored by Chicago Sun-Times.

12 Entries

Dr Cleve A Trusclair

October 4, 2023

My sincerest condolences to the family. If you entered a room and took a poll of the smartest and most intelligent in that room, I can assure you Dr. Sawyer would have been in the top three. To learn of his passing gave me serious pause and questions of time and space! It has been a honor to simple share time and space in the same realm with him! To his family may you find peace in knowing, his legacy will forever speak to us all, through his many academic and scholarly works.

Michelle Evans

May 17, 2019

My sincerest condolences to the family. I remember meeting him back home in Chicago. One of his good friends on my block was named Bobby, who also went to St. Ignatius with him, and that's who I met him through. He was very kind, and super smart.

April 15, 2017

ERNEST AND THERESA:

SORRY I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEMORIAL.
PLEASE ACCEPT MY CONDOLENCES. I WILL KEEP MARK IN MY PRAYERS.

S.B. Mason

April 15, 2017

With the deepest sympathy, may the power of prayer ease your sorrow, give you peace and provide much comfort for you and your family during this difficult time. (Matthew 21:22)

Gaila

April 14, 2017

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mark Sawyer. For those in mourning, may the God who " binds up the brokenhearted" and "comforts those who mourn", sustain you all during this very difficult time. Isaiah 61:1,2 So sorry for your loss.

Barnor Hesse

April 14, 2017

I was so deeply sorrowful in hearing of Mark's passing. I want to pass on my deepest sympathies to Mark's family, especially his parents, wife, daughter and brother. Mark was very generous with his friendship and spirit towards me, and was extremely supportive in various ways since my arrival to teach at Northwestern university. It was gratifying to know him. I was always moved by how he was such a beautiful and encouraging presence in the lives of so many of his students. He was special humane man, a deeply thoughtful scholar and a dear friend who will be mourned and missed by many for quite some time to come.

Lee Newhart

April 12, 2017

I'm so sorry for your loss. This man truly left his mark in the world. May God bless you.

David and Althea

April 11, 2017

Dear Celia, Nina and family please accept our deepest condolences for your loss. May you draw close to God during this difficult time and he will draw close to you.

April 10, 2017

TO THE FAMILY OF Mark Sawyer,

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

1THESS 5:17

PRAY CONSTANTLY.

April 10, 2017

My condolences. I am very sorry for your loss.

Tom Malcolm

April 10, 2017

Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer and Family--

My thoughts are with you. You are in my prayers.

Mr. Malcolm (Morgan Park Academy)

Showing 1 - 12 of 12 results