Obituaries
Mark C. Ebersole
Mark C. Ebersole, former President of Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, died Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Landis Homes in Lititz, PA. He was 89 years old. Born on November 3, 1921, in Hershey, PA, he was the son of the late Benjamin and Mary Ebersole.
Surviving are his wife of 67 years, former Dorothy Baugher, his sons, Philip B. Ebersole of Silver Spring, MD (husband of Samantha Ebersole) and Stephen B. Ebersole of Solebury, PA (husband of Christine Ebersole), and three grandsons Gregory, Bradley and Michael Ebersole. Also surviving are siblings Esta Craighead, Naomi Kruger, Ben Ebersole and he was predeceased by Luke Ebersole.
Mark Ebersole received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Elizabethtown College in 1943. After graduating, he attended Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, PA and received a Master of Divinity Degree. In 1946, he volunteered in the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and traveled to Italy to assist in the rebuilding process caused by the destruction of the war. Upon returning, Mark Ebersole earned a Master’s Degree in History at the University of Pennsylvania in 1948, and a Ph.D. Degree in Religion from Columbia University in 1952. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree by Elizabethtown College in 1963.
His teaching career in higher education began at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, where over a sixteen year period, among other positions, he chaired the Religion and Philosophy Department and was appointed Vice President and Provost before leaving Bucknell University in 1968. But it was in his capacity as a teacher that Dr. Ebersole always believed he had the most impact upon the lives of the students.
After four years with the Ford Foundation as a Program Advisor in New York City, he returned to academia at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA as the Dean of the Graduate School and Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1977, he was named President of Elizabethtown College for the next eight years. From 1986 through 1997, he accepted interim leadership positions at Saint Joseph College in Philadelphia, Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, MD, Linden Hall School of Lititz, PA, The Cambridge School in Weston, MA, and Maryville College, Maryville, TN.
Mark Ebersole served on twenty Board of Trustees/Directorships, including, Co-Leader with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Religious Emphasis Program, Virginia Union University; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Linden Hall School; Chairman, Evaluation Teams for Middle States Association of Colleges and Universities; Co-Chairman, Bright Side Opportunities Center Campaign; and The Lancaster Historical Society.
He lived a very active, full life. He enjoyed golf, tennis, skiing and in his younger years, ice hockey. He authored two books “Christian Faith and Man’s Religion” and “Hail to Thee, Okoboji U! A Humor Anthology on Higher Education”. Additionally, he wrote several published newspaper and magazine articles on a variety of subjects.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life Service to be held Saturday, February 26that 2pm at the Lancaster Church of the Brethren, 1601 Sunset Ave., Lancaster, PA. Interment will be private. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Mark C. and Dorothy B. Ebersole Scholarship Fund at Elizabethtown College, 1 Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. To send online condolences, please visit: SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
It was with great sadness that I read in this morning’s paper, the passing of Dr. Ebersole. I was the Business Manager at Linden Hall School for 23 years.
Mark came to Linden Hall at a very difficult time for the school. He did wondrous things for us in one year. I considered it a privilege to work with him, and to get to know him. He continued to serve on our Board of Trustees and was a source of great ideas. I know he will be sorely missed by so many in the community. You should be so proud of all of his accomplishments and a life well lived. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Sincerely,
Bette Geibel
Dear Dorothy and Family,
We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
The Lettie B. & Luther E. Hoover Family
Dear Dottie,
I learned to know you and Mark when my family were members of the First Baptist Church in Lewisburg (Parents: Don and Phyllis Gay and brothers: David and John Gay). Later, I went to Bucknell where Mark was the chaplain, and he taught Religion courses.
I remember that one of your children was the first baby born on New Year’s Day at the Evangelical Hospital in Lewisburg (no tax deduction!).
I have so many fond memories of Lewisburg times together…what a warm and wonderful family.
We moved to Lebanon, and I lost touch. Then, while attending the graduation at Temple of my sister-in-law, Bettie Roth (now deceased), I was amazed to see Mark leading the procession. I had not known that he was the Dean there. How frustrating it was for me to be in the stands with thousands of people and not able to get close enough to say, "hello." So I wrote a note and learned that you lived in Princeton.
At that time, Mother and Daddy were moving to the Princeton area with the Boy Scouts of America, and you wanted to know if they wished to buy your home because you were moving to Elizabethtown. As it turned out, Mother and Daddy moved to Kendall Park; however, Daddy did die in the Princeton Hospital where the staff were very kind and gentle with us.
Then when I moved to Lancaster and worked as Faculty Secretary at Lancaster Theological Seminary, I saw Mark often as he frequented the library. As a matter of fact, I "fixed" a parking ticket for him one time. I always remembered him so fondly for all that he has done for communities and for people in general, college students in particular,so I wanted to do something nice for him.
I feel richer for having know him — and you, Dottie. His passing marks a milestone in my life. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of you.
Shalom,
Donna Jeanne Gay Grun Kaplan
