Mark Whitt Was Always At Their Side, Escorting Many

Courtesy of Charlotte Brynn, Vermont Open Water Swimming Hall of Fame.

It is a well-established fact that volunteering enhances an individual’s overall sense of purpose and identity.

And, for certain, Mark Whitt from Lewiston, New York had a sense of purpose and a much-appreciated identity as a kayaker, escort pilot, and support crew member of marathon swimmers.

Phil White remembers, “For many years, the former tax assessor served as a volunteer supporting open water swimmers and its growth in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. He participated in the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 In Search of Memphre events, kayaking the 40 km length of the lake for John Batchelder in 2017, Mary Stella in 2018, and piloting the escort boat for Katie Blair in 2015, and the patrol boat Django in 2016.

Mark was a regular and dependable volunteer at the Kingdom Swim and the NEK Swim Week. He relished the longer swims like the 25 km Border Buster and the 28.8 km Lake Massawippi double crossing. He also volunteered at the Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival, with his ever present GoPro. He also kayaked at the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, 20 Bridges, SCAR, and other events around the country, supporting the larger open water swimming community. His quiet presence and understated wit were refreshing, and his love of these swims was deep.”

Sadly Whitt passed away March 7th 2020 and is sorely missed.