Mark Coyne, MATC EMS Instructor, Remembered

Madison Area Technical College faculty, students and staff are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and friend Mark Coyne, a full-time EMS instructor since 1987. Mark was a victim in last weekend's crash of the UW Med Flight helicopter while on a mission near LaCrosse. It is no surprise Mark was on duty, doing his part as Med Flight nurse. Yet, here at MATC he will be remembered as a dedicated, top-notch educator who has trained thousands of emergency personnel throughout the area.

At a brief news conference held Sunday, his friend Todd Cole shared something Mark had said recently when the two were discussing their careers. He quoted Mark: “A candle loses nothing from lighting another candle…Teaching really means something. I’ve really affected a lot of people.”

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 19, 2008 at Crossroads Church, 3815 South Dutch Mill Road in Madison, from 3 to 5 p.m. with a memorial service following at 5 p.m., Pastor Doug VanEssen presiding. A reception will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship fund for nursing/EMS will be established in Mark’s name.

For more info on Mark's life and work, see the recent local media reports in The Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal, WKOW and Channel 3000.