Memorial Fund for Mike Middleton (Austin, TX)

Michael Middleton, a native of Syracuse, NY, lived most of his adult life in Austin, TX, where he learned to love Tex Mex food and the many options for live music and other adventures.

Mike took his last breath on Sept 12, 2022, and headed off on another journey but this time without his family & friends.

During the last few years Mike was diagnosed with multiple health issues. In early 2021 he was caretaker for Paula when she was hospitalized with a severe concussion that ruptured both retinas and left her barely able to walk or talk. Things got more complicated in May 2021 when Mike was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, Peripheral T-Cell Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. As Paula recovered from the concussion she became Mike’s caretaker. Mike’s various protocols & all the side effects & testing seemed like a series of roller coaster rides with a few highs but mostly lows, and went on for more than a year.

His wife, Paula, is missing her spouse, true love, and collaborator. Peter and Katie are missing their father, the devoted man who went to all their games & performances and shared his love of travel and music. He was always crazy about animals, especially dogs & cats, who gravitated to him. Also the chickens & peacock if there were treats involved. He was a gardener, beekeeper, coop builder, proud parent, techie, and so much more.

Mike’s poker face and reserved demeanor often hid his dry sense of humor and generous nature. He was generally not much for talking (a common trait in his family) but loved words when written by gifted authors and songwriters. He was a huge fan of music, especially rock, folk and blues. He loved sharing music experiences with friends & family, whether local house concerts or far flung locations - all three coasts or Red Rocks in between. One of the highlights of his recent Austin adventures was collaborating with Paula to create a clay tile for the wonderful Larry Monroe Forever Bridge in Austin. Mike always enjoyed listening to KUT radio, particularly Larry’s adeptly curated programming.

Donations are greatly appreciated & will be used to help pay for Mike’s medical expenses & final arrangements.