I first met Mike in the fall of 1992. We both were teaching at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. He was hired as a temporary hire, a position he held for two years. We became fast friends, in part because we were both the youngest members of the department and because we clicked. He and I could talk for hours about all kinds of things, teaching, books, politics, history, cooking, bad movies, family, relationships, everything. I am a better cook because I served as his sous chef for too many meals to count. For all of these years we were always able to have such far-ranging conversations and stayed in touch when he moved to Boston and then New York, and then California, and Reno. In the last five years, our conversations turned to the harder things, and we cried and laughed a lot, and almost always ended our visits or texts with I love you. The last time I saw Mike was in January 2020, when I stayed with him for two nights so I could speak at the Reno Women's March. It was a tough visit because he was not feeling well that weekend. I had hoped to see him in May, but that did not happen, due to COVID. I shall cherish each and every moment I had with Mike, from the Burt Bacharach concert where we were seated in separate balcony seats, to the times we went to museums or the many meals we shared. My dear friend, your memory will be eternal. Love, your own poet laureate.
DeAnna Beachley
DeAnna, thank you for sharing and I'm so glad you were able to see him as recently as January. The last few years were difficult on Mike both physically and emotionally. It you and friends like you that he cherished the most. Wishing you peace & health