Not exactly bookish.

One might think that Mark R. Murawski, the late former transportation planner at the Lycoming County Department of Planning and Community Development, had a stuffy or aloof persona.

Not so, according to his friends and colleagues whose stories about Murawski paint a far different picture than a buttoned-down bureaucrat.

True, Murawski was multifaceted and, while he could put on the suit and tie when appropriate, such as holding a Route 15 Coalition meeting with a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he would also be up for a good time and enjoyed adding his special touches to every project.

As a founding member of Public ARTWORKS, a subcommittee of Lycoming Arts, which focuses on beautifying the greater Williamsport area with art in public spaces, at the time of his passing June 5, he was serving as that organization’s treasurer and was helping to coordinate a new downtown mural.

“Mark was truly one of a kind – always willing to lend his expertise, offer encouragement, and champion the arts in our community,” said Debi Burch, Lycoming Arts, president.

“His unwavering support of Lycoming Arts, its mission, and the artists we serve never wavered.”

“Beyond his service, Mark was a valued friend whose kindness, integrity, and sense of community touched countless lives,” she said.

As a public speaker, Murawski will be remembered for knowledge of the subject at hand, a quick wit, endless sense of humor, love of community, family and friends, plus his keen interest in debating current events.

He often fondly reminisced of his college days at Clarion University and Penn State University, and his lifelong interest in coin collecting and numismatic history.

“Mark Murawski was not just gifted in his professional and personal pursuits – he was a gift to those lucky enough to know him and call him ‘friend,'” said Laura Lee Janssen, former news editor at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Another close friend, Laura Martin, said she first got to know Murawski when Our Towns 2010 was formulated as an organization.

Our Towns 2010 was a group formed of like-minded individuals, those who cared for the community and who were in positions allowing them to work with the planner and others in local, state and federal government to reach a vision for what members believed would be the inevitable growth of the city.

It would come at this approach using a transportation improvement perspective, along with ways to encourage community involvement in the economic, tourism and arts communities. By joining forces, organizations such as the Public ARTWORKS formed. He remained on it for those many years – devoted to getting this city and community-at-large to embrace the local artisans, musicians, and entertainers.

Articulate, well-spoken and always up for a good time, Murawski had a great sense of humor, especially with whom he called his Public ARTWORKS “girls,” who he liked to be around.

“He always called us his girls,” Martin said. “He never met a conspiracy he didn’t love,” Martin said.

Murawski and those “girls” could be seen waving to the adoring crowd lining West Fourth Street dressed in all green and white for the St. Patrick’s Day parades the city held for many years.

A fun-loving and devoted friend, “Mark was convinced he was the best dancer,” Martin said.

She said he liked to mimic John Travolta’s dance moves, which the actor made famous strutting down Brookyln’s streets, and in the discotheque as the Bee Gees soundtrack played for the 1977 smash hit Saturday Night Fever.

The girls and other friends were planning to gather after his funeral at a local pub to reminisce.

It’s the kind of get-together he would have wanted, inside a local bar near where many murals and sculptures are on display, near the Trade and Transit Centre II bus terminal and the Trade and Transit Centre I – home to the city administrative offices and Community Theatre League.

“His contributions will continue to be felt for years to come, and his absence will be deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him,” Burch added.

“On behalf of the Lycoming Arts family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Mark’s family, friends, and loved ones,” she said.

“He will be greatly missed, fondly remembered, and forever appreciated.”