My classmate and good friend Mark Plotkin passed away today in his home. Mark was a fiesty  political reporter, working for WTOP. He loved the District of Columbia and fought vigorously for District rights. He also was an unabashedly GW Basketball fan. No one travelled to Olean ,NY more to see GW play St. Bonaventure. Mark wore Buff and Blue on his sleeves. He donated his personal and professional memoirs and writings to GW several years ago. Everyone in the DC knew Mark. Everyone had an opinion of him . Two years ago ,when he picked Loyola of Chicago to be in the final four in his office pool, he was looked upon as a savant in the basketball world. Mark was one of a kind. GW has lost a friend. We all should be very saddened.