With heavy hearts, we are reaching out to support our coworker and friend, Kirsten, and her family following the sudden and heartbreaking loss of Michael, her husband and the father of their children.

His passing was unexpected and has left the family facing an unimaginable loss. As they navigate the days and weeks ahead, they are not only grieving someone deeply loved, but also facing the many practical challenges that come with such a sudden loss.

To know Michael was to be loved by Michael.

In a modern age of efficiency and speed, Michael took the time to stop, listen, and truly get to know the people around him. Whether he was at a local business or encountering a stranger in need, Michael had a remarkable ability to see people, and to notice needs that others might overlook. He made friends wherever he went and was always ready to lend a hand. He had an eye for detail and took great pride in his work as a contractor throughout the Bay Area, completing renovations and remodels that were thoughtfully personalized to each client. His clients often became friends, and with each friendship, his community grew.

While Michael was a general contractor by trade, he was a natural teacher and mentor. During his time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, as a mentor with Mentoring Works in Sonora, and throughout his career, he found ways to guide and encourage young people. Later in life, while teaching and managing a construction training program for transition-age youth in Oakland, Michael quickly became a source of stability, encouragement, and compassion for young people who desperately needed a positive role model in their lives. He went far beyond what was expected of him; visiting young people in the hospital, checking in when they were at their lowest, and making sure they knew that someone believed in them. Perhaps his greatest legacy as a teacher, however, was the two children he cherished with his entire being. He taught them to have the courage to roll up their sleeves and learn by doing, to care for their neighbors, to recognize the blessings they had been given, and to use those blessings to help others.

We are creating this fundraiser to surround the family with support during this incredibly difficult time. Contributions will help ease the immediate financial burden and provide the family with some stability as they take time to grieve, and make arrangements.

Any contribution, regardless of size, will make a difference. Thank you for helping us surround this family with compassion, love, and support during an unimaginably difficult time.