After a rich and so well-lived life, Marc LaFountain, 48, passed away on Friday, February 24 in New York City after a brief illness.
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Keene LaFountain and Sara Taylor LaFountain, Marc attended Columbia, South Carolina schools, graduating from Irmo High School. Marc received his BS in Journalism, from the University of South Carolina in 1997.
Throughout his life, Marc made a huge impact everywhere he went. And he went everywhere. Marc expertly managed IT initiatives and the careers of support personnel across many technical disciplines for Capital One, Tumblr and Yeoman to name just a few. Marc not only had passion for the newest technologies, but also for people. He was a caring individual both personally and professionally. An enthusiastic technology devotee, one of Marc’s online profile descriptions says it best: “Technology Lover with a passion for communication / Communicator with a passion for technology.”
After marrying Francisca Rahardja, in Bogor, Indonesia, they became global citizens, traveling extensively and living in Richmond, VA and abroad in Switzerland and Indonesia. They were not only husband and wife but the most compatible of traveling companions – a perfect match.
Marc’s business accomplishments were impressive. What he’ll be remembered for, however, is his gentle spirit, intellectual curiosity, spot on conversational skills, interest in others rather than himself, and his kindness. Friends close to Marc counted him among their best and most trusted.
Marc is survived by his wife, Francisca Rahardja; mother, Sara LaFountain and father, Keene LaFountain of Columbia, SC and brother Kevin LaFountain and his wife, Christina LaFountain, of Johns Island, SC.
No public service is planned. If you would like to make a donation to honor and celebrate Marc’s life, the following charities were important to Marc: The American Red Cross, where he used to volunteer, the ACLU, and the ASPCA, where Marc and Francisca are monthly Guardians.
I am writing to thank everyone who took their time reading Marc’s blog, and in most recent months, followed his battle with cancer. I am grateful to have had Marc in my life. He has brought me so much happiness, love and kindness. I can truly say that he is my soulmate and the love of my life. There are no words to describe my loss and how much I miss him. And while I try to continue living my life, there are moments when I’m so devastated. And it would hit me at the most random times. Like when I saw a video on YouTube that I thought he might like. When I was walking through Grand Central Station appreciating the energy of New York. When I ate lunch at Chipotle and there was nobody to share my chips and guacamole with. I’m starting to realize that it’s these little things that I would miss about him. Feeling his presence and sharing my life moments with him, no matter how big or small.
Throughout his illness, I have been waking up every morning hoping it was all a bad dream. I always realized the severity of his condition, but told myself that miracles DO happen! And no matter what condition he’s in, I will be there for him.
Over the last few months, I have seen Marc’s condition deteriorate in front of my eyes. I felt helpless, yet at the same time, always knew that I did everything I could to help him. Despite his confusion, loss of memory and pain, he would tell me that he loved me. He thanked me for being there for him, for taking such good care of him. He smiled when he saw me. And I would tell him that I loved him so much, and that he’s the best part of my life. I thanked him for sharing his life with me, for always being there for me and for loving me. These exchanges made me so happy, yet at the same time, they broke my heart.
Marc lost his memory gradually in the last few weeks of his life. The doctors would do neurological tests by asking questions such as his name, date of birth, what date it was, and where he was. What I found interesting was that he would often think that he was anywhere but New York! He answered Barcelona, where he spent some time working. Johannesburg, where he traveled. Jakarta, our place of residence. Bangkok, where we spent time visiting Jerry and Maxine. Cary Town in Richmond VA, and several other places. While I was extremely sad to see this, it also reminded me what a rich life he led. He lived life fully, and traveled the world.
When we took our vows, we said that we will be there for each other, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do us part. I never thought that it would come so soon. I miss him terribly, and feel that a part of me died with him. At the same time, I also know that he will always be a part of me. Before his memory loss, we’ve said everything to each other. We both knew how much we loved each other, how much we appreciated the time that we had together, and how lucky we were to have found each other. I tell myself that Marc would want me to live my best life, no matter what happens. So that’s what I will do for him, and for myself.
Most importantly, I’d like to thank everyone who have supported Marc and me - our family, friends and colleagues who have done the utmost to be there for us during a very difficult time. My sincere thanks to Jerry Margolis who wrote the final chapter on Marc’s blog, and Steve Peterson who authored Marc’s obituary.
I hope we will all remember Marc fondly. May he Rest in Peace.
Marc was a man committed to his love of communicating, particularly writing, and always finishing what he started. Whether that be his published mystery novella or completing the latest season of whatever he was streaming. Sadly, he never had a chance to finish the blog he started to share his battle with cancer. It is with a heavy heart that I will do my best to match his charm and wit telling his final chapter dealing with the deadly brain cancer that ultimately took his life.
Marc posted his last blog on January 19th, sharing that the diagnosis in Singapore was not good and he and Francisca would be relocating to New York City seeking treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering. The flight to New York was not easy as Marc was very uncomfortable from the chemotherapy/immunotherapy he received in Singapore, and the fact that the cancer had spread to his spine. Despite the difficulty traveling and the many twists and turns in his diagnosis and treatment, there was hope and optimism that the experts at MSK and being close to family and friends would bring good news. Things appeared to be coming together in New York upon their arrival. Stacey Kennedy and the PMI team were uber helpful arranging a corporate apartment, a MSK specialist was identified, and an appointment at MSK was scheduled. Additionally, Marc’s family from South Carolina settled into NYC to support him and Francisca. This included his brother Kevin, sister-in-law Christina, and of course his parents, Sara and Keene.
It was January 25th when things unfortunately started to go downhill. That night, Marc experienced a tremendous amount of pain and was rushed to NY Presbyterian Hospital in the middle of the night. It turned out he had a seizure, and they would need to operate to release the swelling in his brain. They also took a second sample, hoping to nail down a diagnosis so that proper treatment could begin with MSK. After a few days in the hospital recovering from the surgery, Marc and Francisca returned to the corporate apartment and waited for their first appointment at MSK.
Unfortunately, on February 3rd just a few hours before the appointment could take place, Marc was back in the NY Presbyterian ER as he experienced confusion, was in severe pain, unable to sleep, not stable on his feet, and his wound from the second surgery was causing problems as it wasn’t healing. During his stays in hospitals, Marc’s physical and mental state altered dramatically. There were many times Marc was completely cognizant, able to talk and laugh with visitors. At other times, the disease took all his energy, and he spent large amounts of time sleeping. Fortunately, while he knew he was in the hospital, he was largely unaware of his illness and its severity.
Marc stayed at NY Presbyterian for over a week recovering until he was strong enough to be moved to MSK. Finally on Feb 9th he was admitted to MSK and began radiation treatment on the cancer in his spine. While the outlook was uncertain, there was reason for optimism as Marc had an appointment in New Jersey with the proton radiation center to get the much-needed treatment on his brain. On Feb 17th, he and Francisca went via ambulatory taxi to NJ to determine if Marc was a candidate for this groundbreaking new treatment. The appointment went well, and treatment was scheduled to start the next week. Sadly, things quickly began to unravel. The next day, the doctors at MSK determined that Marc’s tumor was continuing to grow and there was now a second brain tumor which was causing bleeding in the brain. They also concluded that proton radiation at this point would only make him worse. The doctors determined there was nothing they could do to treat his cancer, and they would do their best to manage his pain and make him comfortable. Shockingly, they said he would survive no more than two weeks. For Francisca, his family and friends, this news was both devastating and surreal. How could someone so full of life and love so quickly see their life and dreams be altered by illness? The prognosis was correct, as sadly, Marc passed on February 24th around 3:30 am. The cancer that Marc had was very rare and difficult to diagnose. Even at the writing of this blog, none of the doctors could determine what it is and how to treat it other than through radiation. This includes the doctors and two pathologists in Singapore, the pathology teams at NY Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
The love for Marc and Francisca was evident during their time in New York. Marc’s family, friends and relatives came to support them during this trying time. Norma and Jeff Drew came from Switzerland and spent over a week doing everything from visiting Marc, feeding Francisca, getting Marc his much loved lunch from Chipotle, bringing him a cannoli which is one of his favorite things, and pushing a wheelchair loaded with belongings 10 blocks down the streets of Manhattan. Marc’s cousins Jeff, Andy and his wife Christine, Leigh, and Amy came to visit him in the hospital along with friends including Jim from Michigan, and Ellie and Tony who came from Virginia. Maxine Margolis came from Florida and spent a week comforting Marc in the hospital, staying with Francisca in the apartment, and helping her through the most difficult days, including being with her when she received the final call from the hospital. Francisca’s brother Adrian was delayed due to Covid, but came from California with his family, and was also there when Marc passed. Ex-Altria colleague Kent Zerangue runs an organization for cancer patients and their families and sent homemade goodies and vegetable soup. Stacey Kennedy and the PMI team helped expedite and navigate insurance and logistics challenges and came through with not just one corporate apartment but a second one closer to the hospitals. Additionally, Philip Morris’ Doctor, Steve Schneider, and Norma’s friend from NY Presbyterian, Doctor Steven Kaplan, helped facilitate and accelerate care and appointments. Friends from Richmond helped Francisca after Marc’s passing. This included Ellie and Julia who helped Francisca with the many things that needed to be taken care of after someone passes away. Veronique who lives in New York, is also there for Francisca while she is dealing with Marc’s situation. Countless others sent flowers, prayers, messages, and calls to offer support to both Marc and Francisca.
Throughout his life, Marc was always a great and constant storyteller. His blog brought us along with him on this unexpected, unwelcome and heart-breaking journey. We all hoped and prayed for a different outcome and are still in shock and disbelief by his sudden passing.
Marc was cremated and Francisca will bring his ashes back with her to Indonesia. Per his request, there was not a memorial service. We can, however, honor Marc’s life by supporting the charities that were important to him. This includes the American Red Cross where he volunteered, ACLU, and the ASPCA. In my many conversations with Marc during this tragic experience, he thought and talked mostly about his worry and concern for others, mostly Francisca. She is managing through the grief with support from friends and families.
I always thought Marc was a “maven”. He was always seeking, obtaining, and then sharing his insights and knowledge on everything from technology, TV shows, reading magazines to financial services. He was super fanatical about so many unique life experiences and passions. He always had the latest iPhone and everything else that Apple produced. My personal Wise, LINE2, Apple One apps along with watching All of Mankind were a few of the most recent things Marc converted me to using. I am sure all of you reading this have some gadget, podcast or TV show that was influenced by Marc. He also had a unique approach to fashion! I will always picture Marc wearing tan khaki pants and a plaid shirt unless he was wearing a Camel Active polo! His strong views on everything from politics to kettle bells to food to the madness of living in Switzerland made every conversation, every text and every email memorable. Always with a smile and a witty comment, I can honestly say I loved Marc, and he was man enough to tell me he loved me too. We will all miss him, will never forget him, or the impact he had on our lives. If there is one lesson we can take from his illness and passing, it’s to be grateful for the things we have in our lives as it can all be quickly taken away.
As a footnote, if you haven’t read Marc’s novella, you can find out how to access it at
I’ve now learned that a cancer diagnosis isn’t always correct or final. It can change. And, sadly, it can get worse.
You may think you have a glioblastoma, but you don’t. Next it looks like a lymphoma, but still nope. Then, a pathologist determines it’s Small-Cell Carcinoma (SCC). So, you engage in some fairly unpleasant immunotherapy and chemotherapies in Singapore, begin to lose your hair, and start to have your doubts.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, SCC is generally lung cancer to start. Having it in my brain would generally mean that lung cancer has spread there. That said, scans still didn’t show any signs of cancer in my lungs. It still looks like my cancer has somehow started in my brain and now started to spread elsewhere.
For what it’s worth, I have zero history of cigarette smoking and a limited history of social cigar smoking that ended almost a decade ago. It was all very strange. It was so strange that we paid a second pathologist at a second Singapore lab for his opinion.
The second pathologist has said two things:
He cannot determine my specific type of cancer beyond an umbrella family called Small-Blue-Round-Cell Tumor (SBRCT). This is challenging, as I cannot engage in specific immunotherapy or chemotherapy unless I have a specific type of cancer to target. (I do kind of like that my cells are blue, though.)
He also considered it highly unlikely I have the SCC type of cancer I was being treated for. He would appear to be right about that.
I have done another MRI. Despite starting immunotherapy and chemotherapies for SCC, my brain tumor has grown significantly, “dots” of cancer in my brain have grown too, and I also have the lovely new development of cancer spreading from my brain to my spine. None of this aligns with my SCC drugs being able to tackle the SCC I was thought to have.
The spreading of my cancer to the spine is part of a lovely condition called Leptomeningeal Disease (LMD).
LMD is a rare complication of cancer in which the disease spreads from the original tumor site to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. When I say “rare,” LMD occurs in approximately 3-5% of cancer patients. I’m still a special snowflake, folks.
The prognosis for LMD is generally poor, with survival typically measured in 2-3 months. Six months is generally considered the most that can be expected.
Death from LMD is generally due to progressive neurological dysfunction. I’m someone who has never felt tall, strong, or athletic. But, I’ve always loved being a thinker, planner, reader, writer, etc. So, I will admit neurological dysfunction ranks low on the ways I would like to go.
The only good option in Singapore for me right now would be radiation therapy. But, radiation is very hard on the body. Also, we would need to use radiation on my spine. This would likely leave me unable to use treatments like chemotherapy down the road that depend on healthy bone marrow for immune system function.
So, we are dropping everything and relocating to Manhattan on Friday. We have been in touch with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for some weeks now. It is our hope to engage with them quickly on any advanced options they may have.
For one potential example, MSKCC has the New York Proton Center. It may be that proton therapy could provide very targeted radiation treatment. (Proton technology will come to Singapore very shortly. But, it’s not quite approved here yet.)
Obviously, this is hard news for me. I continue to appreciate the amazing support I’m getting from my wife, Francisca. She has been incredibly strong and resourceful throughout all of this.
I appreciate the amazing support I’m getting from my parents, brother, sister-in-law, extended family, and numerous friends. Your support continues to mean more to me and Francisca than I can express.
So, that’s my latest update. I will continue to keep you updated here as often as I’m able. As always, my deep thanks for all of your love and support.
