That laugh! It was singular. And so memorable for so many. Mark Sherman, PhD, 79, was a curious, compassionate, elegant man who left us far too soon on August 27th following a brief illness. His life force was so palpable, that his death stunned everyone. He survived three bouts with cancer, always rebounding with a deeper zest for living fully, supporting social justice, understanding the human condition and finding beauty everywhere. He listened actively. He relished travel, film, food, fun, friends, family and the arts, particularly the music of the Grateful Dead. He embraced his 20+ years of vital work as a psychologist at Cook County Hospital (now known as John Stroger Hospital) that ranged from running the psychology internship program to working the ER night shift to establishing the mental health service and “Food, Fun and Fellowship” therapy groups for patients at the path-making Sable-Sherer HIV-AIDS clinic. The garden he created together with his traveling companion of 40+ years, his bereft wife Holly Birnbaum, was a haven behind their cottage-like home on the north side of Chicago. She survives him along with cherished niece Lisa Raden, nephew Tony Raden and his wife Karen; beloved brothers-in-law Bernard Raden, Marc (Jacalyn) Birnbaum and Andy (Linda) Birnbaum; dear sister- and brother-in-law BJ and Rick Kaufman; adored nephew Nate (Livvy) Birnbaum; and loving nieces Ahri (Jay) Golden, Carly (John) Snider, Jessica (Andrew) Pratt and Amy Birnbaum, along with countless friends, family, patients, colleagues, students and others whose lives he touched. He is predeceased by his sister Evelyn Sherman Raden and their parents Max and Mary Sherman. A celebration of Mark’s life will be held Thursday Aug. 31st, 5 PM at the Brushwood Center in Ryerson Woods, 21850 Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods, IL. Family and friends who cannot attend the service can view it at on Mark’s webpage on mitzvahfunerals.com live, or any time after the service. Contributions may be made to the Brennan Center for Justice www.brennancenter.org , ACLU www.aclu.org or your favorite organization. He left this broken world a better place. You know our love will not fade away. Info 630-MITZVAH 630-648-9824