Condolences
Memories of Michael by Auntie Pam
Before and Early
Mom’s concern about the baby and her getting her ears pierced while pregnant.
Dad’s concern about lighting a candle on a cake in front of the baby. Zero candle on his Birthday, July 1, 1978.
I was his Mom’s nurse during labour and delivery. Michael was born with his right fist under his chin. When he was given a bath he would tuck his fist back under his chin. He did that for a few months.
Michael was a chubby sweet baby and very cute little boy. He had lots of smiles.
Uncle Scott and I were proud to be Michael’s Godparents. We were pleased to attend his Baptism when he was a baby and very proud to attend his Confirmation into the Lutheran Church when he was a teenager. Michael frequently mentioned that we were his Godparents and he was happy about that. The last time was in September when we talked on FaceTime.
Michael also liked to hear the story of his birth, especially about his fist.
I enjoyed seeing him when we visited Edmonton when he was a teenager and young adult. I remember going to see him when he was swimming. He loved the water and the sport.
We were so appreciative when Michael came to Medicine Hat for our son Jeremy’s funeral. He also was interested in his cousin Chris and liked to hear of his activities.
My happy memories of him when he had moved to Calgary were of his love of The Big Bang Theory. He and anyone with him watched this favourite show of his. It didn’t matter if he had seen it many times, it always brought lots of smiles and laughter. When I was visiting his Grandma Helen I managed to get him to join me in watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy a few times. We both enjoyed the competition.
After many suppers there was a trip to DQ for his favourite dessert of a Blizzard and Grandma’s strawberry shortcake.
There were very good times and some very difficult ones. He was loved and will be missed.
As Michael’s younger brother, I got to know a side of him that no one else did. Like many siblings, we fought when we were little. In fact, we fought over just about everything. I can’t say we were good friends growing up, but secretly I idolized him. Michael was athletic, popular, and witty. He was artistically creative, which he demonstrated with his skill at building free-form Lego. While I had to precisely follow the directions to construct anything worthwhile, Michael was able to imagine and build much more elaborate and majestic structures. He dominated at video games, which I would spend hours watching him play. I especially enjoyed watching him play video games with his friends, although I often had to prepare them cheesy nachos for the price of admission. He was a physical specimen, that seemed to master physical tasks with ease. I very much wanted to be him, or at least to be like him.
Our relationship evolved as we approached adulthood, and we realized that we had more in common than we previously believed. The way we spoke to each other changed, and we began to view each other as friends. When Michael began university, he made me feel like part of his “in” group. Although this was briefly interrupted when my parents and I moved to the US right before I started grade 12, our relationship flourished when I returned to Canada for university. The summer before my first year, Michael helped me get a summer job as a kid’s counselor at the YMCA, and he and his roommate Derek let me spend the next four months in their basement apartment on their couch. We were also roommates during my second year of university, which was one of the most fun years of my bachelor’s degree. Although I eventually moved out, we stayed in frequent contact. I would attend house parties at his place, or we would meet up for coffee or beer. He became a dear friend and confidant.
After I obtained my bachelor’s degree, I prepared to leave for the University of Kansas to start my Masters degree. While I had my concerns about where I was going in life, Michael enthusiastically encouraged me to move on, and experience new things. It seemed like after so many years of him being in the spotlight during childhood, he was now more concerned with supporting me emotionally.
Neither of us was great at staying connected, so we rarely communicated after I left Alberta. But even though he soon after started to have difficulties, he always remained my dear brother, and my advocate. He will always have a place in my heart, and I will miss him dearly.
I was a friend of Mike since childhood. He was a great friend that was compassionate and caring, always ready to help, ready to lend a hand or an ear. He never stopped being willing to listen to you and your concerns, and think of things in a positive light.
I remember during university days, when a whole bunch of us went down to Calgary, and stayed at his always friendly and welcoming grandparents' home, so that we could attend one of those new, crazy events called a 'rave'. That was a fun time!
Michael and I played football together in high school, and we both played defensive end, me on the left, Mike on the right. The team was very good, and Michael and I played the positions with temerity and grit, pushing back on players much bigger than us - and occasionally, in sync, we both hit the QB at the same time, causing an eruption of wild cheers from our bench. Michael good one better as well - in the playoffs, He intercepted a pass from a desperate play and ran it into the end zone, making it look really really easy.
Some of my most treasured memories of Michael are when the two of us lived in a basement apartment near the UofA. During the long, dark winters, we'd set up Christmas lights in the living room, put on some records and eat day old pizza bagels from Mike's job. Satiated and warm, I used to draw comic strips while Mike would work the decks, playing his latest find from the record shop. We sat in relative silence, but in total comfort, content to spend the time together.
I would like to share my deepest condolences to Michael's friends and family. When I lived in Edmonton, Michael was one of my closest friends, and I spent an incredible amount of time with him, as we shared interests in music, sports and video games.
Michael was incredibly gifted with many talents and a warm heart. I looked up to him for his intellect, skill with music, art, and sports. I am truly lucky to have shared time with him, and I'm deeply saddened that we have lost him. My condolences to his friends and family, it is truly tragic and I know that he had hopes and dreams and plans that were cut short unexpectedly. Love to Michael, and love to his family. Please take care and know that he is in our thoughts.
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