21 Sept 2004

I feel compeled to write you my heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your son. My son Matt went through aviation at Sault College with Mike and they worked at the Waterloo airport together. Both have enjoyed growing up in the Ottawa Valley. Empathy is your pain in my heart!

To quote a mother who tragically lost a son and was the wife of a famous pioneer in aviation:

IT ISN'T
FOR THE MOMENT
YOU ARE STRUCK
THAT YOU NEED
COURAGE,
BUT FOR THE LONG
UPHILL CLIMB
BACK TO SANITY
AND FAITH
AND SECURITY.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

Gerry and Sharon, one day our paths will cross. Meanwhile, I wish you courage in your journey to find peace.

Laurie Sattler
Pakenham, ON
lsattler@stonebridgecollection.com

21 Sept 2004

Dear Gerry and Sharon,
Our hearts ache for you in the loss of your son. Although we never met him, his many accomplishments and adventurous spirit were an inspiration to all, and his "carpe diem" approach to life is a tribute to his amazing parents.
Our sincere condolences,

Doug & Cathy Younger-Lewis
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
doug.younger@sympatico.ca

21 Sept 2004

Sharon and Gerry,
We only met briefly this summer while on a mission trip in Ecuador in July, but we felt like you were angels sent by God. You blessed us and inspired us. We will always remember sitting in your VW in Torturas as you shared stories about your life, including stories about Mike.

As I have been praying for you I am reminded of Psalm 91:

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands"

Just as God sent you as angels for us, I pray that God will send you angels to be with you during this time.

Shalom,
Martita

Martha Rice
Runnymede United Church-Toronto, ON
martharice@canada.com

24 candles...one for each brief year of his life!

20 Sept 2004

Sharon & Gerry, you were very much in our thoughts on Saturday as we paraticipated in a "gruelling" 42 km. cyclathon along the Trans Canada Trail in southwestern Manitoba in 26'C temps. & 40-60 km. an hour winds! Mike would have loved the challenge! My (Liz) sported a "Bike for Mike" sign (see picture below)...I couldn't keep back the tears when fellow cyclists asked me about Mike. Upon our return to Winnipeg, we lit 24 candles...each representing one year of Mike's brief life!

We think Mike (Blopsy)had absolutely the best parents in the world! Our love and sympathy goes out to them!

Liz & Raymond

Elisabeth Loewen Genest (aka Liesbet-Anna)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
eloewen@ms.umanitoba.ca

Bike for Mike

20 Sept 2004

My best memories of Mike involve being really silly, and running around and acting crazy. He was reserved and quiet sometimes, but he was also a lot of fun. We spent hours speculating about how to get into the "secret room" in our house in Colombo, and trying to freak each other out with ghost stories. He was a truly unique kid, way wiser than me, and was consistently kind and patient with his 'Sri Lankan' younger siblings who were often really trying, I'm sure. He was also extraordinarily generous as a little kid - I remember thinking that he made me really look bad with his eagerness to share his belongings, including his dog and his gameboy, with us.
He also loved Michael Jackson, and I was proud to be the keyboardist for his tribute band. His rendition of "Bad" rocked the house. There is a picture somewhere that I would love to see! Hopefully it will make it onto the site.
It is a testament to how amazing and different a person Mike was that so many people will remember him with love. He had awesome friends of all ages, all over the world: getting to meet some of them this weekend was an honour. He had a wonderful girlfriend and and a great family that I was proud to be a surrogate part of. He had a challenging career that he loved and excelled at. Amazing people draw amazing people to them: this is really true of him. I was honored to speak on Saturday night, but Mike had a life so extraordinarily rich for a 24 year old that it would take many days to really do justice to his personality and life experience. Lots of people live to 100 with one millionth of Mike's experience and joy of living.
I was proud to say that Mike was my "Sri Lankan brother", and I will miss him a lot. Much love to you Gerry and Sharon, and I wish you peace of mind in this sad time.

Hilary Dudding
Toronto, Ont.
hilary.dudding@utoronto.ca

"My Wedding Date"

20 Sept 2004

I met Mike in 1998. We were working at the same place, and when I saw him the first time I knew that we would be friends. Born 7 days apart (I'm the old lady)We connected and laughed easily. I could talk to Mike about anything. We would agree on the same things, and tell the same jokes, even listen to the same music. It is such a rare gift to meet a kindred spirt. I was so lucky. Even when we travelled our seperate ways him to fly, and me to figure myself out, we always came back to an easy friendship. We shared summer jobs on more than one occasion, and had crazy trips togeather. I have never had as much fun in a car, as I had with Mike. He gave me my first driving lesson (I faild) and showed me what true friendship was. I will miss him so much.
When my brother was married, I knew Mike would make the perfect date. He shared in our family events like a sibling. He could tease me like a brother and protect me like a mother bear with her cub. And i was the same with him. I always introduced boyfirends to him, and sought his approval. If they didn't like him or he didn't like them, that was it, I always picked Mike.

I know that everyday I will wake up a little peice of me empty, it was a piece that mike filled, and cannot be filled by anyone else. He was a best friend and I loved him very very much. I will miss him always.

Katie
NB/Ont.
katherine.palmer@unb.ca