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From:
Julie Mallozzi
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Sunday, May 14, 2017
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I knew Mike as the father of Faye, my college roommate and lifelong friend. I didn't know him super well but always looked forward to seeing him. I appreciated Mike's smile, his humor, and his genuine interest in everything I was doing and in the world around us. He was lovely to talk to and a super intelligent, warm person. We miss you, Mike!
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From:
Jane Reece
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Wednesday, December 14, 2016
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Mike and I were in many classes together in high school and even went to the movies together once, to see "The Mouse that Roared." We later ran into each other at college and, later still, at UC Berkeley, where I got to meet Barbara. But the period of friendship I valued most started 20 years ago, when I was spending time in Brookline with my ill father and called the Halperns. Mike was upset because he'd just had a minor traffic accident, but he didn't hesitate to invite me to dinner (without consulting Barbara, I think, though it was she who prepared the delicious dinner and even wore her BHS T-shirt in welcome). In the years since, although living in California, I've tried to stay in touch, and my husband Paul and I have enjoyed seeing Mike and Barbara whenever we were in the Boston area. As others have commented here, it was always stimulating to talk with Mike—and especially about politics, music, or French. As a cellist and chamber musician, I was astounded at Mike's knowledge of music in general and the Beethoven string quartets in particular. I once managed to impress him by telling him I'd played Beethoven Opus 59 #2—fortunately for both of us, he never got to hear me play! . . . I was heartbroken to learn of Mike's death and will always remember him dearly.
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From:
Faye Halpern
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
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Here are some memories his grandchildren, Toby and Norah, have of their granddad:
• I like when we played Sorry together.
• I remember Mike telling me that he and his friends would always go to the movies to see sequels, but his parents would make him come home early and so he wouldn’t get to see all of it.
• I like when we played Connect 4 together and he won one game. I think I won more. But it’s o.k.
• He liked talking about animals a lot: like a boa constrictor vs a dinosaur. I forget who won.
• Mike was very, very good at chess.
• We went to Hawaii together. I threw up. It was on a walk. My dad said there was going to be treasure at the end. And there was. It was not the kind of treasure dad thought it was going to be.
• He was very afraid of snakes. We put a toy snake under his pillow. I don’t know what he thought of it because we weren’t there when he saw it. He probably hated it.
• Mike always loved cats. Mom told us this story where there was a crack between the bed and the wall and he’d always stick his fingers down there and the cat would scratch it. He would also stick his hand into the cat’s stomach and wrestle it while the cat attacked him.
• We used to play MasterMind together. He was very good at it.
• He was very smart about writing. We played a lot of word games. Like he would give me [Toby] a word and ask me to switch it up.
• We used to have pizza when we were at his house for dinner.
• I remember that Mike said he was going to do a magic trick and told us to close our eyes and he said he was going to make a strawberry disappear but he just ate it.
• Mike used to read a book to me [Norah] about a mouse dentist. The sign on top of the dentist building said, “No foxes – no predators”. And then a fox came in and the mouse had to pull out his tooth. When the mouse fixed it, he glued the fox’s mouth shut. We both liked the book.
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From:
Chris Lubicz-Nawrocki
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Saturday, December 10, 2016
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I have great memories of the time Mike and I spent “solving” the world’s problems by trying to find answers. Here are some of my recollections and reflections about him from our weekly get-togethers:
From the very beginning, Mike struck me as very unusual in that he focused his attention effortlessly on whatever topic we chose to talk about. With his gravel-like voice, he vented his opinions, but, he always wanted to hear what I had to say. Whatever the topic, Mike discussed it with me as though I were the last person on Earth! He loved to dig deep and to probe puzzling issues from different perspectives.
We enjoyed teasing apart numerous issues over the course of numerous conversations. If we digressed and failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion, Mike often ended the issue by saying something like, “Now, that would make an interesting dissertation topic!”
Mike, as everyone in his circle of friends knows, had a profound interest in, and knowledge of, classical music so he became my mentor in this sphere, I had numerous questions for him about the technicalities of orchestral conducting, which had puzzled me for a long time. I was probably one of the last to benefit from Mike’s extensive knowledge; he not only shed light on my queries but also enlightened me about his hero, Arturo Toscanini. We enjoyed many hours listening to and watching recordings of Toscanini conducting Beethoven’s symphonies and later talking about how his interpretation differed from those of his contemporaries.
There is so much more that I could write, but I'll leave it there. I miss you Mike. Thank you for your friendship and for the memories I have of our many, many conversations. I will treasure them fondly.
Chris
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From:
Larry fantl
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Friday, December 9, 2016
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We didn't see Mike as often as we would have wanted to, but always looked forward to those opportunities to visit with him and Barbara. We very much enjoyed our discussions about politics, the family (e.g., the "kids"), and the movies. Whenever, we see a good movie we think of him. Mike contributed a lot to a conversation, but was a great listener as well, always interested in what the other person had to say. He was well-rounded in his interests, and had strong opinions, but presented them in a gentle manner. And besides, his opinions were most often consistent with our own. What we will remember most about Mike is that even before you entered the front door, you would be met with warmth, a big smile, and a hearty welcome. He loved his family so much and was consistently positive and upbeat whenever we were lucky enough to be with him.
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From:
Ellen and Elliot Gabriel
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Thursday, December 8, 2016
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To remember Mike is to summons images of his ever present smile and engaging laugh; to recall his genuine interest in and enjoyment of everyone who crossed his path; and the easygoing manner in which he met us and others. He had such positive energy, and an outsize warmth that made us comfortable.
We wish we'd known Mike better and longer, but the impressions he made are deep.
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From:
Ross Lilley
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Thursday, December 8, 2016
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We knew Mike through years of intensive physical training in AccesSportAmerica. The training enabled us to know each other on a substantive plane. We know of his tenacity as well as the times of giving in to Charcote-Marie-Tooth. We also knew his hope and his challenge, and his great wit coupled with a very serious analytical side. On more than one occasion Mike showed tremendous wisdom in admitting how very fortunate he was to be married to Barbara. We often joked with him, saying he was "Playing up" in regards to Barbara. He would say "I know, I know, I'm a lucky man."
We were honored to have Mike in our community and family. He certainly was brighter than all of us. We had to be on our toes so as not to expose our shortcomings next to his mastery of trivia. Still, when we used truly obscure trivia that involved Hip Hop artists or NE Patriots players, we could outwit the master! He wasn't impressed that I knew Leonard Bernstein but certainly loved that my percussion teacher played under Toscanini! He didn't want to be called an athlete but at times he transcended his condition and trained like a champion. In short, we loved our time with Mike and can only smile when we remember our friend.
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From:
Wanetta Cheung
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Thursday, December 8, 2016
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Dear Barbara
We are so sad to hear of Mike's passing. We have fond memories of meeting you and Mike on the Azamara cruise to Brazil. Mike was an amazing trivia player and we enjoyed being on a team with him. We remember the joy he had in travelling and making new friends. Our condolences to you , Faye and all your family.
Wanetta and Hym Cheung
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From:
marsha lazar
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Sunday, December 4, 2016
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When Mike and Barb moved to Newton, I had my first adult experience of living near family. Having him nearby was a great gift, and I reveled not only in his company, but also in being able to be helpful from time to time, when I could.
Mike was one of a kind - he always made it clear that he wouldn't be my friend just because I was his cousin, but only if he liked me. I'm honored to be included in that category, and I'll miss him terribly.
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From:
Jane Donahue Eberwein
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Sunday, December 4, 2016
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Mike and I met as students at Brookline High, where I remember him as both competitive and amiable. He was passionate about the sciences and about music and principled in his political stands. When we renewed acquaintance at a high school reunion decades later, he had retired from his university teaching career and returned to the Boston area. My husband and I greatly enjoyed our visits with Mike and Barbara and appreciated their warm hospitality. I'll miss his enthusiasm for Berlioz and Toscannini, his critiques of films and concerts, his liberal political views, and the delight he felt in his daughter's scholarly achievements. Bob and I send our sympathy to Barbara and Faye.
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From:
Alvin Hornstein
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Saturday, December 3, 2016
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My last letter to him, which he may have read but didn't respond to, was a jibe at Trump. We need people with Mike's heart and mind now more than ever. But Mike wasn't only astute about politics. I don't know who I'll turn to now for recommendations about classical music. There are certain kinds of jokes that I'm not sure anyone could share the way he could. There's a big hole in my heart right now.
Alvin Raja Hornstein and Barbara Rose
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From:
Alvin Hornstein
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Saturday, December 3, 2016
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Mike has been in my heart since we used to hang out together in elementary school. We would have been seen as nerds today, but we didn't see ourselves that way. We loved science and music and politics as young kids. He became a real scientistpire and his devotion to truth inspired his politics. I was at his side in the high school auditorium standing up to the lies told by the House Un American Activities Committee and their local Brookline supporters. My last letter to him, which he ma
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From:
Bambi Good
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Saturday, December 3, 2016
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Michael was extraordinary in his passion for music, politics, French, Barbara's cooking, and for his complete engagement in every conversation in which he participated.
Although I came to know him better later in life, I will always remember one evening of our junior year the commitment with which he and a small group of brilliant classmates stood up for what they knew to be the truth in the Brookline High School auditorium when the veterans presented a HUAC apologists' movie, "Operation Abolition." From the start, Michael was not one to compromise about his fiercely held beliefs.
With shock and sadness, Bambi and Michael Good
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Julie Mallozzi
5/14/2017
James DuHadaway
4/18/2017
Kant Lin
4/17/2017
Marjorie Gasman Samps...
1/27/2017
ahaviah@gmail.com
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