It breaks my heart to report that Marc Orchant passed away today, after being hospitalized since suffering a massive heart attack exactly one week ago. Sue Orchant sent this message this morning:
If the outpouring of love, support and caring could heal Marc, he would be with us telling stories right now. Today we are going to make Marc more comfortable. Friends came by all day yesterday with continued prayers and love. Today just our family will be with him. I know you are all still there for him and us. Thank you for all you have done.
Heartfelt Love,
Sue and Family
Marc’s colleague Oliver Starr, who has helped keep his many friends informed with daily updates, posted the sad news this afternoon:
It is with great sadness that I report that Marc Orchant, Husband to Sue, Father to Rebecca and Jason, and friend to so many, passed away just a short time ago. I was notified by Marc’s brother Craig.
His family and closest friends were at his side and his favorite music was playing. Craig said that Marc’s passing was as peaceful and easy as anyone could have hoped and he left this world surrounded by love from so many people that he couldn’t possibly have failed to know how many people cared for, appreciated and respected him.
Anyone that knew Marc also knew how much he loved music; especially the Grateful Dead. The excerpt below is from one of the songs that helped the family say goodbye to Marc and helped Marc move on to the next world. I talked to Marc almost every single day for the past couple of years. I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that I am going to miss him so, so much.
To allow for people that may need to travel and take time of work, services are most likely going to be held this coming Wednesday afternoon at the Temple where the Orchants are members. I will provide more specific details as soon as they have been provided to me. Marc’s family expressed once again their gratitude for the outpouring of love and support that the technology community has shown in this very difficult time. Your warmth, concern and friendship will not be forgotten.
River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back home
It’s a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I’ve come
since I first left homeGoin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul
Update: Oliver Starr has posted a heartfelt memorial to Marc; he has also established a fund to assist Marc’s family.
Marc and Sue are dear friends who have touched many lives. Marc’s loss is just a terrible blow to everyone who knew him and to those who will never get the chance.
This is an image of Sue and Marc from happier days:
Judy and I send our deepest condolences to Sue, Becca, Jason, and the rest of Marc’s family. We’ll miss you, old friend, but we will never forget you.
Ed Bott 
It is still hard to believe. We led parallel lives in Albuquerque. He will be very missed.
I read his blogs, we would converse via Twitter – and it just brings everything into perspective and reminds us of how fragile and precious life really is.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
It’s not fair….
I was sad to learn of Marc’s passing Sunday. This past week, while Marc was in a coma, the incredible outpouring of love and support from those he got to know over the years spoke volumes of how personable, thoughtful and caring Marc was as a human being. I will never forget him. In 2002, after having served several enterprise security companies while I was on the executive management team at a Silicon Valley PR firm, I started KremsPR and reached out to Marc when he held the official title of “Storyteller” at VanDyke Software. Indeed, Marc was ‘page one’ of my consultancy’s story book — he/ VanDyke was KremsPR’s very first client. Marc embraced the “What Keeps Network Administrators Up At Night” survey, which, this May will celebrate its fifth anniversary commissioned by VanDyke Software. The fact is so many concepts either conceived by Marc or supported by him will live on for a long time. I feel privileged to have known Marc and will miss him greatly.
I’m so sorry to hear this. I had the opportunity to get to know Marc this year over the phone. He had done some work with us in the past, and he and I talked about producing a series of productivity titles.
We always had a blast on the phone–I always had to make sure to schedule a half hour over because once we started talking productivity, neither of us could stop.
It was always so obvious in talking with him how much he loved his wife and kids and loved life. We will greatly miss him.
–Juliana
I worked with Marc doing a weekly radio show here in Albuq for a few years. It was his knowledge and banter we exchanged, doing those shows, that entertained 1000’s of listeners every week , that I will never forget. I will miss him, and my prayers goes to his family for their loss. Thank you Marc for being there when I needed you most.