Obituary of Allyn Lewis Mark

Allyn Lewis Mark, M.D., 89, Professor Emeritus of Cardiology, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2025.

Born on March 13, 1936, to Edward Merle Mark and Dorothy Leigh Mark, Allyn spent a life devoted to scientific discovery, education, and the pursuit of understanding the human heart—both in the physiological and metaphorical sense.

A proud alumnus of the University of Iowa, Dr. Mark earned his bachelor's degree in 1961 and joined the UI medical faculty in 1967. Over the course of his distinguished career, he served as Director of the Division of Cardiology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine from 1976 to 1995. He was named President of the Association of University Cardiologists from 1994 to 1995, and his contributions were recognized with the Distinguished Mentor Award from the Carver College of Medicine—a reflection of his deep commitment to guiding the next generation of physicians and researchers.

In 1983, Dr. Mark was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to study microneurography at the University of Uppsala in Sweden, furthering his groundbreaking work in cardiovascular physiology.

Later in life, he channeled his passion for the history of medicine into the authorship of Pioneers Who Transformed Coronary Disease (2020), a celebration of the people behind the advances he so deeply valued.

Allyn was also a man of deep personal passions. He delighted in travel, the arts, music, and the joys of a shared meal. He was predeceased by his former wife, Lennadore “Sugar” Mark, and his brother Edward Mark. 

He is survived by his two children, Curt Leigh Mark (Ann Arbor, MI) and Kristen Mark (Chicago, IL), who carry forward his spirit of curiosity, kindness, and dedication.  We invite anyone who knew and loved Allyn to enjoy a Pagliai’s pizza, and to make a donation to the University of Iowa Stanley Art Museum (c/o University of Iowa Foundation