Every year that goes by after Michael's passing, I recall the pain I felt for you as a mother.  I have held on to my son a little tighter since then and my heart aches for your family every year around this time.  

I am so sorry this day has this significance and can only pray your family can now smile when they think of all the memories you’ve compiled during your short time on earth.

Hi Sarah and Donald,
My name is Elizabeth (Lizz) O'Neill and I was Michael's girlfriend throughout Shortirgde and some time after. I do not have your information anymore but would love to speak with you. I am sorry it has taken me almost a year to reach out. I still can't believe he is not here anymore. My email is scotttpippin@gmail.com and my cell is (323)509-9323. 

I have added picture of my son above,who was 22,passed away in irvine in motorcycle accident..He had a great resembelence with Michael.When I saw Michael face,it reminds of my son.There was so many similarities in this incident,my son omer was raised in woodland hills,CA.My son was very passionate about cars and motorcycles.Omer was highly technical minded,he was having natural ability to fix any mechine of the world.It is unbearable loss,I feel so empty,looks like my all happiness has taken away,feels depressed and feels no charm in daily acivaties.I could not stop crying,when, I saw Michael face on this website.Michael has great resembelence with my son.God may give you patience to bear this unbearable loss.
Abid 

The stories and memories I have of Michael are too many to count, and I wish there was a way to fully convey them in words. Michael was, without a doubt, the funniest person I’ve ever known. Generally, if you tell someone a funny story which they were not present for, the humor is lost on them, as they did not know the person or were not present for the event. There are people where I live now who have never met Michael, who retell stories of his exploits as if they were there - the things he did were so hilarious that they transcend actually having known him. I can never do his humor justice, but there is one story which comes to mind. While it may seem a bit silly on the surface, it exemplifies a quality of his which I have always envied.

When Michael and I were 14 or so, my mother picked me up in the school carpool line. Upon seeing my mother’s car, Michael proceeded (on foot) to impromptu run into the car of the woman next to us, bounce off of the car, fall down onto the ground, and do his “fake crying” routine, which he knew we all loved (Michael was very intelligent, and his humor was often much more ‘high brow’ than this, but he did these things because he knew his low brow friends like me enjoyed them). Michael did not know this woman and she did not know him, and yet there he was, rolling around on the ground next to her car, ruining his school uniform, loudly fake sobbing and wailing as if in great pain - and my mother, who often complained that Michael and I did not take things seriously enough, of course could not restrain her laughter. But Michael did not just do this in front of one random stranger, my mother and I; he did this at carpool time at our rather uptight school, within full view of all of our teachers, all of our fellow students, and all of their parents. Michael did things like this constantly - if he thought he could do something to create enjoyment for people he cared about, he would do it, no matter who was watching, and he absolutely could not have cared less what anyone else thought about it. Some people would say that this behavior was silly, etc. but they just didn’t get it - Michael lived in the moment and pulled his friends along with him, doing whatever he could to make them happy, with zero regard for the judgement of others. I have never met anyone else with that quality to the degree he had it. To this day, when I get caught up thinking about what this or that person thinks of me, I think back to the things Michael used to do, and how free he was to do them, and wonder why I can’t live my life like that. I loved him for it and I envy him for it still.

Michael was my brother growing into whatever form of adulthood I’ve reached - there is no one on this planet with whom I have spent more time hanging out, talking, and laughing with. I had not communicated with him much over the last few years, as distance and life had separated us temporarily, but this did not make hearing the news any easier for me - I do not use the word brother lightly, Michael is like a part of my family. I will never forget him or the things he did - I can’t, because he has affected everything in my life, from my sense of humor to the types of music I listen to today…..plus some of the things I watched him do in public when we were younger are simply not things a person can forget. I truly feel privileged to have known him and to have gotten to be so close with him for the time we had. I love you buddy, and I will end my rant with one of your famous quotes.


“COMPUTER…..LOAD BREAD PROGRAM”

What a shock to receive this devasting news.

It's been some time since I last saw Michael.  I remember him as incredibly smart, quick to smile and sleepy in the mornings when we picked him up to attend Lamplighter.  

There was a lot of discussion about Pokemon on those rides.

I am so sorry for Michael and his family and friends.

RIP, Micheal. 

After another one of those nights spent working on bikes and Michael having his favorite Ginger beer, Michael, Danesh, and I finally sat back to relax and enjoy the beautiful California night. We were laughing and having a good time playing with Kaiser. He [Kaiser] was pretty worked up that night and Michael and I saw a good opportunity to play a prank on Danesh. Previously, we had seen Kaiser jump on and chomp anyone [Me] who rough-housed, to try and break it up. This night, Michael and I both grabbed Danesh, and started "roughing" him up. Boy did Kaiser buy in to our prank and joined in to the fun. A chomp on the arm here, chomp on the leg there, and Danesh was a Kaiser Chew Toy. We both laughed so hard, the tears were rolling down our faces. 

Today the tears are rolling down my face again, but man do I wish it was from laughing. You made such a lasting impression on so many of us and you will be forever missed. I know that one day, we will relax together again, and I will get to hear that unforgettable laugh. The vape naysh solutes its greatest member. RIP Michael