In Memoriam: Mark Bonacorso, President, Media Ink

The print industry lost a long-time member and supporter on November 30 with the unexpected passing of Mark Bonacorso, president of PR and marketing firm Media Ink. He was 58.

Bonacorso was known and respected as an innovative, creative marketing and PR professional who brought a realistic, practical perspective to how clients should communicate their messages. A former graphic designer who understood the combined power of both words and images, one of his greatest strengths was the ability to create communications strategies that helped his clients stand out in a crowded marketplace.

"It is hard to put into words the sense of loss that I feel with Mark's passing," said Skip Henk, president of industry trade association Xplor International. "Professionally he was one of the most giving people I know, honest to a fault. He loved our industry and worked passionately for Xplor during difficult times. I valued his counsel as the Xplor chair but even more enjoyed talking with him about the things going on in our lives. Xplor has lost a great advocate and friend. I have lost one of my closest friends."

"I am stunned and deeply saddened by Mark's passing. He was a close friend as well as a valued colleague," said Scott Baker, president of Scott Baker Associates. "I always looked forward to speaking with Mark because we would invariably end up talking about the fun things we both enjoyed—fine food, wines, recipes, our wives, our pets—as well as the business at hand. I will miss Mark's humor, his creativity, his loyal friendship, and his unique take on life. Rest in peace, my friend."

"How many times have you heard 'it's business, not personal?' For Mark, it was personal," said Andrew Gordon, director of enterprise marketing at Mimeo and executive committee member with PRIMIR. "For me, he was far more than my go-to PR guy. He was a brilliant strategic advisor, both personally and professionally, always there, behind the scenes, counseling, guiding and ensuring that I thought through every angle and detail before making a key decision. He approached all of his relationships this way and was passionate and personally committed to helping his friends and clients succeed. I will miss the countless conversations where he shared his thoughts and experiences on topics ranging from cooking, design, art, music, politics, his amazing wife and stepson, and his many pets. We have lost a great soul and he will be missed."