Very sad to hear this news. When Mike and I were preteens we met while attending Terry Fox Elementary School in Orleans, Ontario. I recall we walked roughly the same route home from school and one day on the sidewalk we struck up a conversation about a mailbox across the street. Being a couple of nerdy 9-10 year olds obsessed with all things cool, we hit it off discussing what would be the most awesome aircraft and weapon system to obliterate said mailbox and settled on an F-111 Aardvark supersonic strike jet plane with a nuclear payload that would have instantly vaporized the mailbox in question along with most of Eastern Ottawa. We gave little thought to collateral damage.

This kicked off a few years of near-inseparable friendship. I remember battles with wooden swords and shields (that might have had unfortunate implications for a certain interior stained-glass window at their house), endless fun with rudimentary recording devices, fantasy RPG games on the PC, laughing uncontrollably together at Patrick's "Stooky-wum" chant and accompanying leaping dance, and adventures running around the house with invisible rifles where we agreed we were space marines conducting boarding actions against invading alien cruisers.

Reading the summary of Mike's achievements and experiences I am surprised at the parallels in our lives: academic pursuits, respect for history both military and otherwise, guitars and singing and karaoke, and endless curiosity about the world. I only saw Mike a few times after we finished going to school together and I am seeing that we would have had so, so much more to discuss and work on together.

I will never forget the many after-school hangouts that led into dinners where I got the chance to be glad to be with Mike and the Hattons, to share their food and enjoy their company. Rest in peace, pal.

-Andrew Greenwood

So devastated to hear of this. Michael was great at meeting new people and making fast friends. He'll be remembered in Kingston.

Michael was the definition of unique. He was so unbelievably marvelous, He could take any mundane act, and make it extraordinary. Being with Michael was like living in a musical. Songs abounded, antics ensued, and you never knew what was coming next. When I was with Michael, I was constantly on the edge of my seat in the best possible way, I couldn’t wait for what adventure was in store for us next. A dear friend of Michael’s in this tribute section noted that he was larger than life, and that is such a true statement. When he entered a room, people took notice, whether it was the historically accurate glasses, or the lumberjack attire, the energy that radiated off him in waves, or some combination of all three, when Michael was around people were simply drawn to him. He had a magnetism that cannot be captured on a page. I have so many wonderful memories of a bright, bold, beautiful (inside and out) person, and I will cherish them forever. Michael was so special, and words cannot describe how much better the world was with him in it. May his memory bring you joy, and these words some modicum of peace. Sending love and light to you across the miles. Very sincerely, Erica Steele.

I met Michael at karaoke at the Tir Na Nog in Kingston years ago. He immediately commanded the stage, switching from introvert to extrovert under the lights - something we had in common. He was a great and emotive singer who enjoyed the humour of contrast. As a person, he was warm and sensitive, struggling inside with personal things like many of us, unable to disclose them in full, again, like many of us. The irony of his appearances at karaoke is that nearly all of us regulars shared this singular self-truth. When covid took over our world, we all suffered together separately; so many were lost.

Michael and I shared a love for history and thought, though our love for karaoke and our good friends there is what binded us. He liked people as much as he liked singing, as is evident in the photos. A gentle giant, a kindered spirit, he will be missed by many.

I have thought and spoken of Michael often this past summer -- recalling fond memories of early summer evenings marvelling at the fireflies. His optimism was infectious. I regret I did not jump at the opportunity to reach out and let him know how much I cherish those moments. My heartfelt condolences to the family during these difficult times.

I was a friend of Michael’s when he lived in Baltimore. Michael was a larger-than-life figure. The first time I met him he had biked over to my house to have dinner with me and my housemates. It had been raining heavily that evening and Michael got caught in the rain on the way over to our house. I vividly remember Michael walking through the front door, absolutely soaked from head to toe, but more than that, I remember him being completely unbothered by having been caught in the rain. Almost immediately, he and I started talking as if we were old friends. Over the course of the next 30 minutes we would cover Civil War history, NHL hockey, the Orioles game from the night before, and a host of other topics. And that was all before dinner! Michael could talk about anything to anyone. I have such fond memories of evenings with him on the back porch talking about our lives, nights at trivia with him (he and I were on the same trivia team a couple of times— whichever team Michael was on always won), and (most importantly!) nights at karaoke with him. Michael was one of those people who could walk into a room and immediately attract the attention of everyone there, but in a kind and gentle way. When you were talking with Michael, you always got the sense that, at that particular moment, his conversation with you was the only thing in the world that he cared about.

Michael was a generous, thoughtful, and sensitive soul. Michael knew his stuff, and he could talk to you for days about American history or almost any other topic— he was one of the smartest people I’ve ever met— but you never got the sense that Michael thought of himself as superior to you in any way. I don’t know that I’ve met many other people in my life who were that smart but that modest and unassuming about their intelligence.

Rest in peace, Michael. You were good, and you lived a good life.

Mike,
I saw so much of myself in you. I wish I could’ve conveyed that more. You were whip-smart, frenetic, funny, and a bright light in our family. You were a fascinating person who I wish could’ve experienced more beauty and less pain. I pray you’re at peace and with GG and everyone else who’s in the afterlife, and I hope to see you again one day. I wish I would’ve reached out again.
Love, G