<font color='black' size='3' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>
<div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black">
<div id="AOLMsgPart_2_bd387db0-10a0-4e81-b055-819f087e4036">
<div><span></span></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="black" size="3"><font size="3">Dear friends (you may get this twice, I'm sorry):<br>
<br>
There is just no way to sugar coat this: Our friend, colleague, and neighbor, Mark Oppen passed away this morning.<br>
<br>
Mark's passing was not unexpected. <br>
And still, it is one of those circumstances that makes the world seem really really capricious. Unfair. <br>
<br>
</font></font></div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif" color="black" size="3"><font size="3">Mark was the best of the best. And if you're very lucky in this life, you get to meet one such person. One.<br>
<br>
There's not much more.<br>
Today is not a good day.<br>
<br>
Fair winds, Mark.<br>
</font><font size="3">May your heart always be joyful <br>
And may your song always be sung<br>
<br>
Tom Elsen<br>
</font>
</font></div>
</div>
</div>
</font>