Dr. Mark Lorne Davidner, 80, of Prairie Village, Kansas, died on April 16 at Kansas City Hospice House.
The funeral service was held on April 18 at Louis Memorial Chapel, followed by burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Mark was born on July 3, 1943, to Arnold (Abraham) and Mary Davidner in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Growing up, he was the oldest of his cousins, a natural leader, funny, athletic and brilliant. He graduated at the top of his class with a degree in biology from the University of Saskatchewan. Although Mark loved history and dreamed of becoming a professor, his family strongly encouraged him to become a doctor.
After graduation, Mark completed a four-year internal medicine residency at Hennepin County General at the University of Minnesota, where he served as chief resident. He also completed a hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Utah. While in Utah, he worked alongside world-renowned hematologist, Dr. Maxwell Wintrobe, who would become his mentor. Mark was board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology.
Mark moved to Kansas City in 1974 and joined Kansas City Medical Group, where he practiced for six years. He founded the Davidner Hematology and Oncology Clinic in December of 1980. In 1981, Dr. Robert Belt became his first partner and, a year later, Dr. Mark Myron joined them in the practice. In the mid-1980s, the practice expanded and became Oncology and Hematology of Kansas City with five offices across the metro area. In 1994, they became part of the U.S. Oncology Network and were known as Kansas City Cancer Centers. In 2011, KU Health System acquired Kansas City Cancer Centers, paving the way for the KU Cancer Center to be named a National Cancer Institute Designated Center. In 2022, it became a comprehensive cancer center, the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and the gold standard for cancer centers. This collaboration fulfilled a lifelong dream for Mark, who dedicated his life to the advancement of cancer research and treatment.
Over the years, Mark served as President of Baptist Memorial Hospital and was an associate clinical professor at both the University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine and the KU Cancer Center. He also served on the Association of Community Cancer Centers board and is a founding member of Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.
While Mark did not call himself a pioneer, his efforts were instrumental in his field. Mark studied constantly, staying on top of his ever evolving specialties. He was known for his comforting bedside manner, kind sense of humor and innovative thought process. Mark was lauded as the best physician in his field by various publications year after year.
Mark would say that none of this was possible without his wife of 48 years, Diane, with whom he would raise five daughters. Though Mark’s professional life was challenging, his home life was filled with laughter and happiness. Together, the Davidners enjoyed spending time with their large extended family, traveling and socializing with their beloved lifelong friends.
Mark was a member of Congregation Beth Shalom and The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. He and Diane were major benefactors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. In 2022, they were the honorary chairs of Sunday Night Live, Champions of Care, the Kansas City Hospice Foundation’s annual fundraising gala.
Mark himself enjoyed the simple things; long walks, planting flowers, good food and watching sports. But his favorite thing to do was sit outside with the sun on his face. While in Kansas City, he would relax in the backyard watching his grandkids play on the sports court. In Miami, he would lounge in his favorite comfy deck chair, reading and watching the boats go by.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Karbank Davidner of the home, and sister, Barbara Laimon and brother-in-law, Ken Laimon of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is also survived by his children, Alissa and Gregory Pool of Miami Beach, Florida; Jennifer Davidner and her partner, Jeremy Cathlina of Leawood, Kansas; Mia and Adam Feldman of Prairie Village, Kansas; Rachel and Claude Einstein of Overland Park, Kansas; and Shana and Alexander Rasnavad of Miami Beach, Florida; as well as grandchildren Zachary Pool, Alexandra Pool, Lucy Cattano, Gemma Cattano, Brody Feldman, Sydney Feldman, Chloe Feldman, Ari Einstein, Hudson Einstein, Natalia Rasnavad and Sebastian Rasnavad; sister-in-law Marcia Karbank; brother-in-law Neil Karbank and his wife Gretchen Calhoun; brother-in-law Steven Karbank and his partner, Anne Gatschet; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Josh Ezell, Loren Berenbom, John Dunlap, Alexander Davis, John Clough, Richard Muther, Mark Myron, Christopher Geha, Mohammed Mohaildeen, Gerald Reed, Robert Belt, Laura Mullins from the Menorah Medical Center ICU and the doctors and nurses at the Kansas City Hospice House.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the University of Kansas Cancer Center, Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City (jewishkansascity.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/tributes-memorials) and Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care (9001 State Line Rd #300, Kansas City, MO 64114 or kchospice.org/donation).
For donations made to the University of Kansas Cancer Center, please direct them to KU Endowment Memorials at P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044, for the benefit of the KU Cancer Department. Please make checks payable to “KU Endowment” with “Honoring Dr. Mark L. Davidner” in the memo line. To give online, visit kuendowment.org/memorials, choose “KU Cancer Department” and enter “Dr. Mark L. Davidner” in the field asking who is being memorialized.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.louismemorialchapel.com.
