I am so sad to write this. Michelle and I were very close in college. She contacted me a few years ago, and we had pleasant conversations, but did not see each other. I just looked her up right now. I am shocked. She was so fun and truly made my time at MBC much better. Please contact me and I would love to share some fun stories with her husband. I really was hoping to connect with her.  I  so sorry for your loss 

A day doesn't go by that I don't think about Michelle. I have a picture of her in my wallet and make it a point to look at  her every time I open it. Although I appeared late in Michelle's life,I quickly grew very fond of her which was easy to do. I'm sad that I only knew her for a few years but feel blessed to have had her in my life for a short time.I will never forget those brief memories. She was  a beautiful person and I miss her very much.

Dear Michelle, happy birthday my dear and loyal friend.   I've thought of you so much since your last birthday.  I've tried so hard to remember every conversation we ever had and thankfully so many wonderful memories have come back to me.  Just last week I started to read over 40 years of saved letters from my family and from you my friend starting when we met each other in boarding school.   I would like to share some of your thoughts from several of the letters you wrote me in hopes that the people who cared about you will enjoy your thoughts and humor.  Oh, I know you would like to know (not that you don’t already, right?) that your lovely cat friend Brandon is doing just fine in his new home. He has made several lady friends, they have good taste in men, I saw the other male cats and he’s definitely the “Cat’s MEOW!”

10/5/1981

Dear Andrea, “I was so happy to receive your letter at break today.  The reason why is because I am in a bad mood.  I have gotten the dreadful canoe trip cold and am constantly coughing, blowing my nose and the whole bit!  There is always a certain sparkle in your letters, and I thank you for writing me at the right time!  THANKS!  The other day I got new glasses.  I’ve had a lot of complements on them.  Now I can see everything that’s going on now, not that I don’t see everything that goes on around me! Right?!  I called my mom and the subject of colleges came up, and she would like it if you could send her a brochure and anything else that can tell her a little about your college.   Will call you soon, and can’t wait to see you!  Love, Michelle".

10/23/1981

"Dear Andrea Thanks so much for your letter!  I would like to ask you one question?!  In a recent letter and the one you just wrote it started off saying “your letters are always so interesting!”  What do you mean by that?  I don’t know if I should take that as a complement or maybe you’re hinting I should write more!”  Michelle wrote really really interesting letters to me! Love,Michelle".

6/16/1984

“Dear Andrea, Just a short note to tell you that I haven’t forgotten about you!  I’ve enclosed a photo of myself, I hope you like it.  Just thought you might like to have a picture of me so you won’t forget me.  Hope you like it.  Love, Michelle.”

As my husband, Wally, carried Michelle's picture in his wallet and often shared it with our friends and family, I saw the excitement and pride in his eyes of his new found daughter.  Although their time was short, it was a time shared with laughter, happiness and mutual respect.  Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to meet Michelle in person, but I have read over and over our great exchange of emails over the last months.  They were filled with humor, mutual expeeriences, family events and most of all things I could shsre with her about my husband.  We laughed that Wally now had two Michele's (Michelle's) to love in his life.  We teased about the spelling of our names, but that indeed kept it simple.  There is a great sadness in our home, but our memories as short as they were will be cherished by Wally and me the remainder of our lives.

Uncle Walter called me out of the blue one day in November 2011 to say that I had a new cousin...and her name was Michelle..When I first saw her pictures, I thought, what a beautiful woman she is. So eager to get to know her, we began to email each other in January 2012 and I shared with her background of my/our family and some family photos. She was so interested in learning all that she could about us.

The last email I received from Michelle was in July 2012. She came across to me as polite, happy, self assured, very articulate, outgoing with genuine love for her family and life in general. She was a woman who had it together. I knew just by her words, she was a very kind, sweet woman. When I started to learn more about her, how close in age we were, we even graduated the same year from college, although I was a few months older, we were beginning to form a bond and I was very much looking forward to meeting her in person and getting to know her better.

I found out that Michelle passed away a couple of weeks ago. I was shocked and saddened to hear this news. Another beautiful life taken so young and so suddenly, in the prime of life, from our family. May those who knew Michelle best, my sincerest thoughts and condolences go out to you, especially her immediate family. Uncle Wally, Michelle will always be with you. May you find eternal love and rest peacefully amongst God's angels.