Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are saddened to report that Mark K. Bayless of Berkeley, California, died of complications of diabetes this morning, aged 46. Mark was well known in the monitor community, having overseen the newsletter VaraNews that preceded websites and forums as a source of information about monitor husbandry and biology. An irrepressible Renaissance man, Mark assembled what is surely the largest existing collection of articles, accounts, stories and pictures of anything and everything related to monitors -- it is less well known that his collections relating to the biology of whales, and cryptozoology, were even larger. Mark was always extremely generous in sharing any of the information he collected with anyone who asked, and a great many people -- from the least-experienced new keepers to established scientists -- have benefitted from his efforts and knowledge. Mark often posted here, and was nearly as often banned owing to his unpretentious nature and love of salty language. The community of monitor-keepers will be very much less informed and entertained without Mark's input, and he will be greatly missed.

Sam Sweet
Daniel Bennett
Bob Mendyk
Clay Fischer
Anja
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Mampam Conservation

Very well put Sam et al. Mark will be missed and always remembered, rest in peace amigo.

Sam Sweet
Daniel Bennett
Bob Mendyk
Clay Fischer
Anja

Thank you guys for posting such a wonderful post... There is no way to put into words how much of a loss this is to us all but you came as close to it as possible...

Mark, you are greatly missed my friend...

My condolences to his friends and loved ones. Cheers

Whether you thought he was full-of-it or not, he was a real nice guy and a blast to hang out with. I will miss him much, thanks for the post.

Erik.
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Erik Williams

fattailed geckos, western hognoses, and a bunch of postage stamps.
Contact me
www.chicagoherp.org
Chicago Herpetological Society

Such a nice guy and when he had the time so helpful with the collection of monitor papers he has.
He will be missed.

Nicely put, this is truly a shame. I had just started to get to no mark rather well. I will never forget our fist introduction during a lecture I gave. I will greatly miss you my friend, and will never forget our conversations……

This is a terribly sad day for all the people that Mark Bayless had helped so much and shared information with. I know that I am terribly in his debt for the information that he has sent to me and all the questions that he had answered. I will miss him, his work that he had not finished and his colourful personality.

Michael Cota

Mark will be missed by all that met him. His enthusiasm for all things varanid sometimes led to the brain-clutch being let out a bit but his heart was always in the right place. I did not know him well or long but always enjoyed the correspondance. He was a good bloke.

All the best
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
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http://www.venomdoc.com

I started talking to Mark back in 1994 when Greg Naclerio was still publishing the VaraNews. We spoke countless times over the years, and he was always a wealth of info and encouragement. He had a way with making you feel like you could accomplish anything. He genuinely wanted to see other people succeed. I spoke to Mark on the phone just days before he was hospitalized, and he was again pushing me towards a tentative new goal I'd told him about. Thank you Mark for being a good friend. I'll miss our convrsations greatly.
Rob Faust

My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Very sad news. The loss of anyone as passionate about monitors as Mark was is deeply unfortunate. He will be sincerely missed. My condolences go out to his loved ones.

--Ravi--

Mark was an entertaining friend, key word here is FRIEND!
Rest In Peace, Brother.
Mike

To all is friends and family.
Mark was an open book of monitor lizard

It was an honor to be part of his cyberworld. He seemed like a great guy. I will miss him. Thoughts to his friends and family.

Mark was a best friend to me for 15 years. I will truly miss him.
Goodbye old friend.

-John A

I am very sorry to hear this. I barely knew him, but the entire community of those interested in Varanids suffered a great and terrible loss in this most unfortunate event. My condolences to his family and friends.
-Eric R

Sad to hear this. Mark was a great source of monitor info. He was very helpful & informative. He helped me with the taxonomy of V. albigularis & its various morphological differences by locality.

Condolences to Marks' family & friends.

Lizardman
-EB

Mark is not dead...
-Adam

There has been some confusion. I apologize... Refer to here for an explination: http://repticzone.com/forums/Monitors/messages/1048356.html

-Adam

Sad to hear.. what ashame..great guy....we all have a time.

I didn't know that Mark had passed away. Now I feel terrible! I was on a serious mortality kick for awhile after the death of Steve Irwin and I told him about my doubts and fears concerning what happens after death. I knew that his health had been iffy since he was born and had I known he was so sick, I certainly would have NOT brought up that conversation. May Mark truly rest in peace.

I am saddened by his passing. He gave me alot information (esp. on dumerils) and I am grateful for having the opportunity to have communicated with him. Rest in peace, Mark.