So sad to hear this. Mike and I weren't close during school years but found common ground when I began a second career selling wine and spirits for a company that called on Mike's family store, John Walker's, in SF. We would talk about aspects of wine and favorite regions often at the Neil Cummins reunions at Paul Della Santina's home in Petaluma. Like other's in that sort of industry, there came challenges not present in other professions. Mike was a good man, a good father, a friend I wish I had found earlier. He will be missed. RIP Mike.
I have known Mike since Kindergarten at Ross School. I have watched him grow up and be a wonderful person, but unfortunately he had a dark side. Mike struggled with alcohol and it took over his life for too many years. No one loved Mike more than me outside of his immediate family. When he went into a recovery program I would go see him every weekend and try and lift his spirits. When he came out of that program my wife and I opened our house to him so he had a place to live. It was difficult to do, but I was convinced that I could get him back to the person I knew that I admired. Let's face it, there are way too many in the Class of 1970 who have passed on because of this disease. Mike, I still regard you a very special person who touched me during your life and may your demons now rest in peace.
Mike and I were good friends at Redwood and beyond. After Redwood I went to UC Santa Barbara and he went to Pepperdine in LA. He'd often pick me up on his way between LA and Marin for school holidays. I remember once he picked me up in the wee small hours and we talked for hours and watched the sun come up over King City. Later when I worked in downtown San Francisco I'd often drop in and see him at John Walker & Co or we'd party at "Fat City", the Tiburon house he lived in during the 70s.
He was a great guy and I'll miss him. Please rest in peace, old friend.
Bob Tanner
So sad to hear this. Mike and I weren't close during school years but found common ground when I began a second career selling wine and spirits for a company that called on Mike's family store, John Walker's, in SF. We would talk about aspects of wine and favorite regions often at the Neil Cummins reunions at Paul Della Santina's home in Petaluma. Like other's in that sort of industry, there came challenges not present in other professions. Mike was a good man, a good father, a friend I wish I had found earlier. He will be missed. RIP Mike.
George Carewe
I have known Mike since Kindergarten at Ross School. I have watched him grow up and be a wonderful person, but unfortunately he had a dark side. Mike struggled with alcohol and it took over his life for too many years. No one loved Mike more than me outside of his immediate family. When he went into a recovery program I would go see him every weekend and try and lift his spirits. When he came out of that program my wife and I opened our house to him so he had a place to live. It was difficult to do, but I was convinced that I could get him back to the person I knew that I admired. Let's face it, there are way too many in the Class of 1970 who have passed on because of this disease. Mike, I still regard you a very special person who touched me during your life and may your demons now rest in peace.
Ned Martini
Mike and I were good friends at Redwood and beyond. After Redwood I went to UC Santa Barbara and he went to Pepperdine in LA. He'd often pick me up on his way between LA and Marin for school holidays. I remember once he picked me up in the wee small hours and we talked for hours and watched the sun come up over King City. Later when I worked in downtown San Francisco I'd often drop in and see him at John Walker & Co or we'd party at "Fat City", the Tiburon house he lived in during the 70s.
He was a great guy and I'll miss him. Please rest in peace, old friend.